Senate OKs Trump Pick for Labor Dept.  10/01 06:25

   

   WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Senate confirmed President Donald Trump's pick to 
lead the Department of Labor on Wednesday just before heading home to campaign 
for the midterm elections.

   Keith Sonderling, who was confirmed 47-41, has been the acting secretary 
since April and has served in multiple roles within the department over the 
course of his career. He was picked for the job after the White House announced 
that Lori Chavez-DeRemer would be leaving her post to take a job in the private 
sector. Her exit followed multiple allegations that she had abused the power of 
her position.

   Sonderling was a senior advisor in the department during Trump's first term 
and later served as a Republican member of the Equal Employment Opportunity 
Commission. He also taught about the laws the department enforces as an adjunct 
professor at George Washington University. He returned to the department in 
Trump's second term and was confirmed as deputy secretary in March of last year.

   Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., said it was clear Sonderling was qualified for the 
position when the committee he chairs advanced his nomination to the full 
Senate.

   "I'm confident that he will protect workers, help businesses create more 
jobs, and help workers navigate AI-driven changes in the workforce," Cassidy 
said.

   Democrats opposed Sonderling's confirmation, citing administration policies 
at the department they disagreed with, including management of some Department 
of Education grant programs at Labor. That's been happening as Trump works to 
fulfill his campaign pledge to close the Department of Education entirely.

   The Labor Department's mission is focused on administering federal labor 
laws to guarantee workers' rights to fair, safe, and healthy working conditions.

   "I fear any vote to confirm you is for more of the same: to strip overtime 
protections for our workers, to undercut our unions and to let giant 
corporations get away with robbery, literally," Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., 
said during Sonderling's confirmation hearing.