Lori Chavez-DeRemer has left Donald Trump’s Cabinet following a series of allegations of abuse of office, including claims of inappropriate conduct with a subordinate and wider misconduct in her official duties.
The White House confirmed her departure on Monday, making her the third Cabinet-level official to leave the administration in recent weeks, following earlier exits by Kristi Noem and Pam Bondi.
In a statement responding to her exit, Chavez-DeRemer defended her record in office, saying: “I am proud that we made significant progress in advancing President Trump’s mission to bridge the gap between business and labor and always put the American worker first.”
Unlike previous Cabinet departures, her exit was formally announced by White House communications director Steven Cheung, who said she would be moving into the private sector.
He also credited her with advancing labour-related policies and workforce development initiatives during her tenure.
Deputy Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling has been appointed as acting head of the department following her resignation.
Her departure came after months of increasing scrutiny, as multiple investigations examined her conduct in office.
Reports indicated that the Department of Labor’s inspector general reviewed communications involving Chavez-DeRemer, her aides, and family members, including messages allegedly directed at junior staff.
According to media reports citing investigative findings, her husband and father were also involved in communications with young staff members, while some employees were allegedly instructed to give preferential attention to her family.
These issues formed part of a broader inquiry into her leadership style and workplace conduct.
Additional allegations included claims of a personal relationship with a subordinate, alcohol consumption during official duties, and directing aides to arrange official travel that was reportedly used for personal purposes.
Chavez-DeRemer rejected the allegations in a post on social media, stating: “The allegations against me, my family, and my team have been peddled by high-ranked deep state actors who have been coordinating with the one-sided news media and continue to undermine President Trump’s mission.”
While initial responses from the White House and the Labor Department dismissed the claims, their position reportedly shifted as more details emerged and the investigation expanded.
Several senior officials in the Labour Department were also removed during the probe, including her former chief of staff, deputy chief of staff, and a member of her security detail allegedly linked to the reported misconduct.
Republican Senator John Kennedy described her resignation as appropriate, saying it reflected sound judgment in light of the controversy.
Chavez-DeRemer was confirmed as Labor Secretary in March 2025 after a 67–32 Senate vote.
A former Republican congresswoman from Oregon, she was known for her pro-labour stance and received support from major unions, including the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
During her time in Congress, she backed legislation aimed at easing unionisation and strengthening Social Security protections for public-sector workers, positions that distinguished her from many in her party.
As Labor Secretary, she pushed deregulation efforts, overseeing revisions and proposed rollbacks of several workplace rules affecting wages, safety standards, and labour conditions—moves that drew criticism from unions and worker safety advocates.
Her department also ended several international programmes aimed at combating child and forced labour, initiatives previously credited with significant reductions in global child labour over the past two decades.
Despite leaving office under a cloud of controversy, Chavez-DeRemer said she intends to continue advocating for American workers outside government service.
