Senate Confirms Lori Chavez-DeRemer as Labor Secretary
Originally Published by: Safety and Health Magazine — March 10, 2025
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Lori Chavez-DeRemer is the new leader of the Department of Labor, after the Senate confirmed her nomination with a 67-32 vote on March 10.
Lori Chavez-DeRemer
Seventeen Democrats voted in favor of the nomination, while Sens. Rand Paul (R-KY), Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Ted Budd (R-NC) were the only Republicans to vote against Chavez-DeRemer. Paul also voted against Chavez-DeRemer during the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee vote on Feb. 27.
His opposition reportedly is based, in part, on Chavez-DeRemer’s co-sponsorship of the pro-labor Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2023, also known as the PRO Act. Chavez-DeRemer, elected to the House in 2022 to represent Oregon’s 5th Congressional District, was one of three Republican co-sponsors of the bill.
She tried to distance herself from the PRO Act (reintroduced in both the House and Senate on March 5) during her Feb. 19 confirmation hearing. “I’m no longer the lawmaker,” she testified multiple times.
“Like President (Donald) Trump, I believe our labor laws need to be updated and modernized to reflect today’s workforce and the business environment,” Chavez-DeRemer said in her opening statement. “As a member of Congress, the PRO Act was the bill to have those conversations – conversations that matter deeply to the people of Oregon’s 5th Congressional District.
“I recognize that bill was imperfect, and I also recognize that I’m no longer representing Oregon as a lawmaker. If confirmed, my job will be to implement President Trump’s policy division and my guiding principle will be President Trump’s guiding principle: ensuring a level playing field for businesses, unions and, most importantly, the American worker.”
Chavez-DeRemer is DOL’s first Senate-confirmed leader since Marty Walsh resigned in March 2023. Julie Su filled the role in an acting capacity for the remainder of President Joe Biden’s term.
“I’m deeply honored to be confirmed as the 30th @usdol Secretary under President @realdonaldtrump,” Chavez-DeRemer wrote on her Instagram account. “As promised, I’ll work tirelessly to put American Workers First by fighting for good-paying jobs, safe working conditions, and secure retirement benefits.”
The National Safety Council, in a statement released March 11, calls the appointment of Chavez-DeRemer “a crucial opportunity” to make workplace safety a national priority.
“With thousands of workers losing their lives each year, we need decisive action to prevent these tragedies,” said Mark Chung, executive vice president of safety leadership and advocacy at the council. “NSC stands ready to collaborate with the Department of Labor on data-driven policies that eliminate serious injuries and fatalities, strengthen protections for all workers, and ensure everyone returns home safely at the end of each workday.”