Trump Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer Resigns Amid Misconduct Investigation
Lori Chavez-DeRemer, the Labor Secretary under former President Donald Trump, has resigned from her position, the administration announced on Monday. Her departure comes as she faces a series of misconduct allegations, including having an affair with a subordinate and drinking on the job.
Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for Trump, confirmed the resignation on social media, stating that Chavez-DeRemer is leaving to take a role in the private sector. He praised her work, saying she protected American workers and enacted fair labor practices. However, her exit follows mounting controversies that have plagued her tenure.
Investigation into Professional Misconduct
The Labor Department's inspector general is currently investigating Chavez-DeRemer and her close aides over claims of professional misconduct. According to reports from the New York Times, these allegations include an affair with a member of her security detail, keeping alcohol in her office, and using government resources for personal travel. Additionally, her aides are accused of attempting to direct grants toward politically connected individuals.
Further scrutiny emerged last week when another report revealed that Chavez-DeRemer and her top aides, along with family members, routinely sent personal messages to young staff members. The newspaper also reported that her husband and father exchanged text messages with young female employees, adding to the scandal.
Husband's Involvement and Allegations
The scandals extend to Chavez-DeRemer's husband, Shawn DeRemer, an anesthesiologist. He was barred from the Labor Department's headquarters after at least two female staff members accused him of sexual assault, alleging inappropriate touching at the department's building in Washington. His lawyer dismissed the claims as part of an effort to force his wife out of office, and no charges were pursued by police or prosecutors.
Despite this, the inspector general's investigation is believed to be nearing its conclusion, with at least four department officials having been forced out as it progressed. Republican Senator John Kennedy from Louisiana commented on the resignation, saying, "I think the secretary demonstrated a lot of wisdom in resigning."
Background and Political Career
Chavez-DeRemer, the daughter of a Teamsters union member, previously served as a Republican congresswoman from Oregon. She had union support in her district but lost her reelection bid in 2024 after one term. Her nomination by Trump was welcomed by unions skeptical of his second-term agenda for workers, and she was confirmed by the Senate in March last year with a 67-32 vote, including support from more than a dozen Democrats.
In a statement on social media, Chavez-DeRemer expressed pride in her work, highlighting efforts to bridge business and labor gaps, create job pathways, and address issues like AI preparedness and prescription drug costs. However, her tenure was marked by significant policy rollbacks.
Policy Changes and Criticisms
During her time in office, the administration cancelled millions of dollars in international grants aimed at combating child and slave labor, ending work that had helped reduce child laborers by 78 million over two decades. The department also moved to rewrite or repeal over 60 workplace regulations deemed obsolete, including minimum wage requirements for home care workers and people with disabilities, and rules on exposure to harmful substances and mine safety.
These changes drew condemnation from union leaders and workplace safety experts. Proposed eliminations included requirements for adequate lighting at construction sites and seat belts for agriculture workers in employer-provided transportation. Cheung announced that Keith Sonderling will serve as acting secretary of labor following Chavez-DeRemer's resignation.
This resignation marks the third cabinet departure under Trump's second term, all involving women, following homeland security secretary Kristi Noem and attorney general Pam Bondi. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
