Senate Backs Chavez-DeRemer for Labor Secretary

A Senate committee moved forward with President Donald Trump’s nominee for the U.S. Department of Labor, as concerns persist regarding Elon Musk’s team accessing federal data systems for cost-cutting measures. The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions voted 14-9 to endorse Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s nomination to the full Senate.

Although Chavez-DeRemer, a former Republican congresswoman from Oregon, is perceived as more labor-friendly than others, some senators have expressed their opposition to Trump’s Cabinet selections. They view this as a form of protest against the administration’s extensive efforts to transform the government. Vermont’s independent senator, Bernie Sanders, voiced concerns during the committee’s proceedings, suggesting that Musk’s influence could overshadow decisions made by secretaries in critical departments like labor and education. “The next secretary of labor, the next secretary of education, is Elon Musk,” Sanders noted, urging deliberation over the potential impacts.

During Chavez-DeRemer’s February 19 confirmation hearing, Republican senators scrutinized her Congressional record supporting pro-labor bills. Chief among the issues discussed was her backing of the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which sought to facilitate unionization and impose penalties on employers hindering such efforts. Committee Chair, Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, questioned Chavez-DeRemer’s current stance on the PRO Act. Chavez-DeRemer did not commit to a definitive yes or no response, clarifying that she saw it as Congress’s role to legislate, not hers. Nonetheless, she expressed support for state “right to work” laws that allow employees the choice of joining a union.

Chavez-DeRemer’s responses appeared to appease the Republican members of the committee, with Senator Cassidy noting the nominee enjoys backing from both unions and businesses: “If confirmed, she has the opportunity to bring these two groups together to secure a better future for all.”

With nearly 16,000 employees and a proposed budget of $13.9 billion for fiscal year 2025, the Department of Labor would be under Chavez-DeRemer’s leadership if approved. Her duties would include setting priorities on issues such as wages, workplace safety, and workers’ rights, while also balancing employers’ interests. Meanwhile, lawsuits filed by 14 Democratic states and labor unions aim to prevent Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency from accessing sensitive Labor Department data, particularly information concerning medical and financial records of American workers, including those involved in safety complaints.

During the confirmation process, Democrats sought clarity on Chavez-DeRemer’s perspective regarding her allegiance to workers amid an administration focused on reducing federal workforce size. They inquired whether she would withhold data access from Musk or his proxies regarding competitors or labor infringement investigations by OSHA, an agency currently examining several of Musk’s enterprises. Chavez-DeRemer emphasized her accountability to the President, stating, “I work for the president of the United States, if confirmed, and I will serve at the pleasure of the president on this issue.”