Bend, OR – The Senate voted on Monday to confirm Lori Chavez-DeRemer as the new U.S. Secretary of Labor, a key position that will see her responsible for enforcing federal worker rights and protections at a time when the Biden administration is working to streamline government operations, including proposed layoffs of federal employees.
Chavez-DeRemer, a former Republican congresswoman from Oregon, will oversee the Department of Labor, which is tasked with regulating workplace safety, investigating wage disputes, and upholding labor laws related to union organizing, minimum wage, and child labor. The department, which has nearly 16,000 full-time employees, operates with a proposed budget of $13.9 billion for fiscal year 2025.
The Senate voted 67-32 in favor of Chavez-DeRemer’s nomination, with notable bipartisan support. Seventeen Senate Democrats joined with the majority of Republicans in confirming her, while three Republicans voted against her appointment. The confirmation came after the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions had voted 14-9 in favor of her nomination the previous week.
Several labor unions, including the powerful International Brotherhood of Teamsters, endorsed Chavez-DeRemer, citing her strong pro-labor record. During her one term in Congress, Chavez-DeRemer gained a reputation as a supporter of workers’ rights. She is also the daughter of a Teamster, a connection that resonated with union leaders.
However, her confirmation hearings were marked by tense exchanges, particularly over her past support for the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, a bill aimed at making it easier for workers to unionize. The bill also seeks to impose penalties on employers who attempt to interfere with organizing efforts. Chavez-DeRemer, who had co-sponsored the bill during her time in Congress, did not explicitly commit to backing it as Labor Secretary. Under questioning from Republican senators, she emphasized her belief in “right to work” laws, which allow employees to opt out of union membership in workplaces.
Chavez-DeRemer walked a delicate line during the confirmation process, attempting to appeal to both Democrats and Republicans. While acknowledging the federal minimum wage’s stagnation at $7.25 per hour since 2009, she expressed caution about raising it, stating that she did not want to “shock the economy.” This response drew criticism from some labor advocates who argue that a minimum wage increase is long overdue.
The confirmation of Chavez-DeRemer completes the confirmation process for all but one of former President Donald Trump’s Cabinet nominees. Despite being a moderate choice within the Republican Party, Chavez-DeRemer has found herself in a unique position, tasked with leading a department at the heart of current debates over labor laws, government efficiency, and workers’ rights.
As Labor Secretary, Chavez-DeRemer will oversee critical issues impacting millions of American workers, including setting standards for workplace health and safety, enforcing wage and hour laws, and ensuring fair treatment for union workers. Her approach to these issues could have lasting effects on labor policy in the United States, particularly as the country continues to navigate an evolving economy and workplace environment.
With her confirmation, Chavez-DeRemer now faces the challenge of managing a department with a significant budget and workforce while balancing the complex political dynamics surrounding labor rights in America.
