The US Senate confirmed Lori Chavez-DeRemer as the workers minister in Trump presidency on Monday. In this position, she may maintain federally mandated employee privileges whilst the White House aims to reduce state workers numbers.
She will guide the Department of Labour, which is involved in legal issues regarding Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency’s power over inconsistencies and data entry.
The Labour Department, with roughly 16, 000 full-time team and a proposed budget of$ 13.9 billion for fiscal year 2025, has extensive jobs. These include posting unemployment figures, work health regulation, investigating income disputes, and enforcing laws on federation organisation.
Big employment organizations, including the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, supported Chavez-DeRemer’s election. A previous Republican congressman from Oregon and a Teamster’s girl, she developed a pro-labour standing during her House term.
The Senate approved her election 67-32, making her among the last of Trump’s Cabinet verification.
The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labour &, Pensions voted 14-9 for her candidacy. All Republicans except Sen. Rand Paul supported her, alongside three Progressives: Sens. John Hickenlooper, Tim Kaine and Maggie Hassan.
During commission trials, Republican lawmakers questioned her about co-sponsoring policy supporting employee unionisation and penalising proof companies. She avoided directly addressing her stance on the Protecting the Right to Organize Act ( PRO Act ), explaining her co-sponsorship as a means to participate in labour discussions. She afterwards affirmed help for state “right to job” laws.
Chavez-DeRemer furthermore supported policy protecting public-sector staff ‘ Social Security benefits from pension-related cuts. Regarding minimum wage, she acknowledged its slowdown at$ 7.25 since 2009 but expressed concerns about economic effects.
Democratic lawmakers have raised concerns about her freedom under President Trump’s presidency, which has terminated several national staff.
