U.S. Senate Confirms Lori Chavez-DeRemer as Secretary of Labor

On March 10, 2025, the U.S. Senate confirmed Lori Chavez-DeRemer as Secretary of Labor by a vote of 67 to 32.

Chavez-DeRemer is a former U.S. Representative from Oregon, and has emphasized a commitment to job growth, reducing regulatory burdens on businesses, and strengthening apprenticeship programs. Her confirmation aligns with the administration’s focus on creating a more flexible labor market and rolling back policies from the Biden Administration, reports the OSHA Defense Report. During her confirmation hearing on February 19, 2025, during which Chavez-DeRemer cited her background as the daughter of a Teamsters union member and her experience as a small business owner. She also stressed the importance of expanding alternative career pathways, such as apprenticeships, to bolster the U.S. workforce.  

Keith Sonderling, a former Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) vice-chair, will serve as Deputy Secretary of Labor. With experience in labor law and business regulation, Sonderling is expected to focus on policies supporting gig workers, AI in the workplace, and voluntary compliance for businesses. He previously served in the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division under Trump’s first term.

“The confirmation of Secretary Chavez-DeRemer presents a crucial opportunity to elevate workplace safety as a national priority," said Mark Chung, executive vice president of safety leadership and advocacy at National Safety Council. “With thousands of workers losing their lives each year, we need decisive action to prevent these tragedies. NSC stands ready to collaborate with the Department of Labor on data-driven policies that eliminate serious injuries and fatalities, strengthen protections for all workers and ensure everyone returns home safely at the end of each workday.”

A successful Department of Labor is a department that grounds itself in the current safety challenges in workplaces. Employers nationwide are grappling with implementing technology, eliminating serious incidents and fatalities, facilitating young worker safety and reporting on leading indicators for workplace injuries instead of lagging. The Department of Labor must finalize its Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Indoor and Outdoor Occupational Settings rulemaking to support occupational safety efforts. Additionally, the Department must initiate proceedings to update hazardous energy control regulations, monitor young worker exploitation, collaborate with the United States Department of Transportation on work zone safety and ensure workplace compliance with current guidance and regulations, said the NSC in a statement.

The American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) released the following statement regarding the confirmation of Chavez-DeRemer.

ASSP President Pam Walaski, CSP, FASSP: “On behalf of our membership of 35,000 occupational safety and health professionals, ASSP congratulates Lori Chavez-DeRemer on her confirmation as Secretary of Labor. Every administration presents a fresh opportunity to advance workplace safety and health, and ASSP looks forward to working with the new leadership at the Department of Labor. We are encouraged that Secretary Chavez-DeRemer has established a clear record in support of workers as a small business owner and former congresswoman. Based on her testimony, she also aligns with ASSP’s strong position against exploitative child labor. Businesses and organizations in all industries must continue to seek innovative solutions to combat the fact that serious workplace injuries, illnesses and fatalities have remained relatively stagnant. ASSP members implement safety and health strategies to help reduce those numbers, but ultimate success nationwide requires a collective effort driven by steadfast contributions from all groups and government agencies involved. Safety, health and well-being are inherent rights of every worker.”