Senate confirms Keith Sonderling as labor secretary

The Senate confirmed Keith Sonderling as the new labor secretary on Wednesday, officially replacing Lori Chavez-DeRemer who left her acting position in April. The vote was 47 to 41. Sonderling has previously held roles at the Department of Labor and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission during the Trump administration. He also practiced employment and labor law at a Florida law firm.

President Trump nominated Sonderling in June, highlighting his dedication to benefiting the American workforce. Chavez-DeRemer's departure marked the latest in a series of Cabinet changes, following the firings of Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Chavez-DeRemer faced scrutiny, with her conduct under investigation by the Labor Department.

An inspector general's report detailed a "toxic, intimidating and humiliating" work environment under her leadership. Sonderling did not play a major role in the report, except for a brief mention that Chavez-DeRemer and her chief of staff grew to distrust him. The Senate's last order of business before the month-long recess was the confirmation vote, as senators campaign ahead of the midterm elections.