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2mo ago

Trump’s Labor Secretary Nominee Faces Bipartisan Scrutiny Over Union Stance

Lori Chavez-DeRemer, a former GOP congresswoman, navigates tough questions on her labor record and alignment with President Trump during confirmation hearings.

Lori Chavez-DeRemer attends a hearing of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee on her nomination for Secretary of Labor, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Senators also pushed Lori Chavez-DeRemer to defend President Donald Trump's flurry of executive actions, which critics have denounced as unlawful
Former Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Ore., President-elect Donald Trump's pick for Secretary of Labor, meets with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of N.Y. in his office on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Overview

  • Lori Chavez-DeRemer, nominated by President Trump for Labor Secretary, faced bipartisan questioning over her past support for the PRO Act, a pro-union bill she co-sponsored during her congressional term.
  • Republican senators, including Rand Paul, expressed concerns about her previous backing of legislation that could overturn state right-to-work laws, though Chavez-DeRemer stated she now supports states' rights to maintain such laws.
  • Democrats grilled Chavez-DeRemer on her willingness to stand up to Trump on ethical decisions, including protecting sensitive labor data from potential misuse by administration officials like Elon Musk.
  • Chavez-DeRemer has received mixed support from unions and business groups, with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters endorsing her nomination while conservative advocacy groups remain critical.
  • Her confirmation hinges on securing at least one Democratic vote in the Senate committee, as Republican opposition from within her own party threatens to block her advancement to a full Senate vote.