Three and counting! The White House announced on Monday the resignation of Lori Chavez-DeRemer from her position as Secretary of Labor, after thirteen months in office. “Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer will be leaving the government to take a position in the private sector,” said the director of communication, Steven Cheung.
Appointed in March 2025 by Donald Trump, she becomes the third woman to leave the administration in six weeks, following the departures of Kristi Noem and Pam Bondi. The executive stated that Keith Sonderling, the current number two at the department, will serve as interim.
“She has done a phenomenal job in protecting American workers,” praised Steven Cheung. Meanwhile, Lori Chavez-DeRemer mentioned “the honor and privilege of serving in this historic administration” in a message posted on Monday.
The former Oregon legislator, 58 years old, was noted for her close relationship with unions upon arrival, contrasting with the predominantly managerial profile of the government. Her term was marked by job cuts within her department, within a broader context of reorganization of the federal administration.
Suspected of an “inappropriate” relationship, she has faced several controversies in recent weeks. According to the New York Post, she is under investigation for an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate. She is also accused of consuming alcohol in her office during workdays, as well as fraud for allegedly inventing official trips that turned into pleasure trips with her family and friends.
The White House had deemed these accusations in January as “baseless”. In addition, internal complaints about a toxic work environment were raised by the New York Times, while accusations against her husband, Shawn DeRemer, have also been reported.
