On Monday, March 10th, the U.S. Senate confirmed former U.S. Representative Lori Chavez-DeRemer from Oregon as the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor. This marks another Cabinet nominee appointed by former President Trump to receive confirmation with support from both parties.
The Senate ultimately approved her appointment with a vote of 67 to 32, with 17 Democratic senators joining the majority of Republicans in support.
Among the Republicans opposing the nomination were Rand Paul, Mitch McConnell, and Ted Budd. Democratic Senator John Fetterman from Pennsylvania did not participate in the vote.
Trump has consistently aimed to reduce government regulations and limit restrictions on businesses, in stark contrast to the pro-union policies during the Biden administration. Many Republicans believe that Chavez-DeRemer’s appointment signifies a shift towards more free-market policies at the U.S. Department of Labor, shedding what they view as excessive regulatory measures from the Biden era.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune stated last week in the Senate, “We need a Department of Labor that is better than what we had during the Biden administration.”
“In the past four years, the Department of Labor has implemented many regulations that are contrary to the interests of workers,” Thune said.
He emphasized that one of the top priorities of the Trump administration was to improve the working environment for American labor.
“President Trump has shown his commitment to American workers. Improving the lives of American workers was a top priority in his first term and will remain so in his second term,” he declared. “This is a welcomed change compared to the past four years.”
Chavez-DeRemer will lead a department with approximately 16,000 full-time employees, with a budget of potentially $13.9 billion for the fiscal year 2025.
She is not only the 21st official confirmed by the Senate among Trump’s cabinet picks but also one of the few Trump nominees opposed by conservative Republican members.
This is primarily due to her support for the Protecting the Right to Organize Act (PRO Act). The bill, which has broad support among Democrats, aims to enhance union organizing power but faces opposition from conservative Republicans.
However, Chavez-DeRemer’s stance on the bill garnered support from three Democratic senators during the committee vote in the Senate. At the same time, she also received backing from some union leaders and business groups.