Chavez-DeRemer Resigns Amid Misconduct Probe

Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer has resigned amid an internal investigation into misconduct allegations. According to multiple reports, she will take a position in the private sector.

White House communications director Steven Cheung announced her departure on X, stating that Deputy Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling would become acting secretary. This resignation marks the third Cabinet-level shakeup during President Trump's second term, following the departures of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Chavez-DeRemer faced allegations including having an affair with a subordinate, drinking alcohol on the job, and using taxpayer-funded travel for personal purposes. The New York Times reported that her husband, Shawn DeRemer, was barred from Labor Department headquarters after at least two staffers accused him of inappropriate touching. According to CBS News, the department's inspector general is also looking into text messages sent by Chavez-DeRemer and her aides to young staffers.

Chavez-DeRemer previously served as a Republican congresswoman from Oregon before losing her reelection bid in 2024. Her nomination was supported by labor unions, including the AFL-CIO, despite skepticism about Trump's views on organized labor. During her tenure, she launched the 'America at Work' listening tour, visiting all 50 states.

In a social media post, Chavez-DeRemer praised President Trump as the “greatest president of my lifetime” and vowed to continue fighting for American workers in the private sector. She highlighted her efforts to bridge the gap between business and labor, stating she was grateful for the opportunity to meet workers across the nation.

Chavez-DeRamer’s departure follows reports that began surfacing in January that she was under a series of investigations. The New York Times reported last Wednesday that the Labor Department’s inspector general was reviewing material showing Chavez-DeRemer and her top aides and family members routinely sent personal messages and requests to young staff members.

The news outlet NOTUS was the first to report Chavez-DeRemer’s resignation. At least four Labor Department officials have already been forced from their jobs as the investigation progressed, including Chavez-DeRemer’s former chief of staff and deputy chief of staff, as well as a member of her security detail.