Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigned on Monday after a whistleblower complaint triggered an Inspector General's investigation earlier this year. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung announced her departure for a private sector position, praising her contributions to workers and labor practices. Keith Sonderling will serve as acting Secretary of Labor.
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung confirmed the resignation in a post on X. “Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer will be leaving the Administration to take a position in the private sector. She has done a phenomenal job in her role by protecting American workers, enacting fair labor practices, and helping Americans gain additional skills to improve their lives. Keith Sonderling will take on the role of Acting Secretary of Labor,” Cheung wrote. Chavez-DeRemer is the third Cabinet member to depart the Trump administration this year, according to reports from News of the U.S. (NOTUS), which first reported her likely step down. The New York Post linked her exit to an ongoing probe by the Inspector General’s Office into allegations of misconduct. Those include claims that she encouraged staffers to fabricate “official” government trips to visit friends and family at taxpayer expense, drinking alcohol during work hours and in the office, and an extramarital affair with a security guard. The investigation also examined text messages between her staff, husband Shawn DeRemer, and her father. In one exchange, a female staffer texted Shawn DeRemer: “I’ve been having so much fun traveling with LCD and being in the moment for everything!! I promise from now on I’ll check in.” He replied: “You better. I was feeling forgotten. I figured you were still in church repenting after your exposure to the demon state of Oregon.” The Inspector General’s investigation continues.
