U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigned from her post on April 21, 2026, amid a series of escalating investigations into professional misconduct and the alleged misuse of federal resources. The announcement, confirmed by White House Communications Director Steven Cheung, marks the end of a tenure that began with a bipartisan Senate confirmation in early 2025. Cheung stated that Chavez-DeRemer would be moving to the private sector and praised her for her efforts in protecting American workers and enacting fair labor practices. Deputy Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling has been designated as the Acting Secretary to lead the department during the transition.
The resignation follows months of scrutiny by the Department of Labor’s Inspector General, Anthony D’Esposito. Investigations have centered on allegations that Chavez-DeRemer engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a member of her security detail and frequently consumed alcohol during the workday. Furthermore, the Inspector General’s office has been reviewing claims that the Secretary used government funds and department resources to facilitate personal travel. These inquiries coincided with the resignations of her chief of staff and deputy chief of staff in March 2026, following a separate probe into travel fraud involving the scheduling of official events as a pretext for personal trips.
Chavez-DeRemer is the third high-ranking female official to depart the Cabinet in recent weeks, signaling a continued reorganization within the executive branch. Her exit follows the March departure of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and the April dismissal of Attorney General Pam Bondi. While the President has frequently used social media to announce personnel changes directly, the news of Chavez-DeRemer’s resignation was first reported by the news outlet NOTUS before the White House issued a formal confirmation on Tuesday morning.
A former one-term Republican congresswoman from Oregon, Chavez-DeRemer was confirmed by the Senate in March 2025 with a 67-32 vote. Her nomination was notable for its support from major labor organizations, including the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, whose leadership had lobbied for her appointment. However, her tenure was also marked by policy shifts that aligned with the administration’s broader deregulatory agenda, such as the department's decision to stall new limits on silica exposure for coal miners. In her resignation statement, Chavez-DeRemer defended her record, citing her work in preparing the American workforce for the age of artificial intelligence and promoting retirement security.
The final weeks of her tenure were overshadowed by reports regarding inappropriate communications within the department. The Inspector General was reportedly reviewing text messages sent by Chavez-DeRemer and her family members to junior staff. Additionally, sources confirmed that the Secretary’s husband, Shawn DeRemer, had been barred from the department’s Washington, D.C. headquarters earlier this year following complaints of inappropriate contact with employees. The Labor Department has not provided further comment on the status of the ongoing Inspector General investigations following the Secretary's departure.