President Donald Trump’s nominee for Labor secretary, Keith Sonderling, appeared before a Senate committee on July 16, highlighting his academic and legal experience as reasons he should get the job.
Sonderling told the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee about his background as a labor and employment lawyer in Florida, a senior policy adviser at the Department of Labor during Trump’s first term, and a commissioner of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
He also pointed to his time as an adjunct professor at George Washington University Law School, where he taught students about laws enforced by the Department of Labor.
“These experiences have prepared me to lead the department with a deep understanding of its mission, its people and most importantly, the American people we serve,” he said. “Under President Trump’s leadership, we are restoring compliance assistance, pursuing rulemaking that replaces uncertainty with clarity, expanding retirement investment opportunities, promoting competition in prescription drug pricing, and helping more Americans start families.”
Prior to his nomination, Sonderling was also on the 2024 Trump transition team, where he led the labor group.
In his opening remarks, the chairman of the committee, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), lauded Sonderling’s professional background.
“Based on his extensive experience in labor and employment policy, and as a public servant, it is clear he is qualified,” he said.
Cassidy noted that the Senate confirmed Sonderling on a bipartisan basis in 2020 to be a commissioner on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, where he “worked in a non-partisan manner to address illegal workplace discrimination and enforce laws as Congress intended.”
At the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division, Sonderling developed the Trump administration’s policy toward independent contractors, “which empowered millions of workers to earn a living in the manner in which they chose.”
“He has continued to push for Americans’ ability to work as independent contractors at DOL, championing policies that provide regulatory clarity to workers and businesses as to what constitutes an independent contractor.”
However, Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) criticized Sonderling for his policies.
“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,” she said.
During his nomination hearing, Sonderling also talked about his role on Vice President JD Vance’s task force to combat fraud.
Sonderling said he’s directing states to “verify first and pay later” regarding unemployment insurance claims. He said the department is working with Alabama on a centralized verification system.
“They have some of the lowest fraud and improper payment rates in the country because they are verifying,” he said.
