Overview
- Lawmakers cleared D’Esposito in a 53–43 vote as part of a bloc of 97 Trump nominees advanced under streamlined Senate procedures adopted in September.
- D’Esposito pledged to pursue fraud and abuse cases and to combat labor and human trafficking while enforcing the law without fear or favor.
- Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Rep. Laura Gillen, criticized the selection, pointing to prior ethics allegations reported by the New York Times, which D’Esposito has denied.
- The Labor Department inspector general oversees investigations into unemployment insurance fraud, child labor enforcement, labor racketeering, and human trafficking, with more than 300 staff and an annual budget of about $97 million.
- The vacancy followed the January removal of multiple inspectors general, and D’Esposito has not ruled out a 2026 run for his former House seat, according to recent comments and political speculation.