US Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer Resigns Amid Misconduct and Ethics Investigations

Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigned as U.S. Labor Secretary on April 20, 2026, becoming the third woman to leave President Donald Trump's Cabinet in less than two months, amid multiple investigations into alleged professional misconduct and personal scandals. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung announced her departure on social media, stating she would move to the private sector. Deputy Secretary Keith Sonderling was named acting Labor Secretary. The White House publicly praised her tenure even as investigators were reportedly nearing the conclusion of their probe.

Inspector general probe covered affair, travel, and family conduct The Inspector General of the Department of Labor, Anthony D'Esposito, had been investigating Chavez-DeRemer since January, according to reporting by La Repubblica and El País. The allegations against her included an extramarital affair with a member of her security detail, consuming alcohol during working hours, and directing aides to arrange official trips that were used for personal travel. Several senior aides, including her chief of staff and deputy chief of staff, had already resigned in recent months amid the internal probe. A New York Times report published the week before her resignation revealed that investigators were reviewing materials showing that Chavez-DeRemer's top advisers and family members routinely sent personal messages and requests to young department employees. Three senior women at the Labor Department had also lodged civil rights complaints against Chavez-DeRemer, according to The Irish Times. The inspector general's investigation was believed to be nearing its conclusion, and Chavez-DeRemer had been expected to be questioned in the coming days, El País reported.

Husband barred from headquarters after assault allegations The scandals extended beyond Chavez-DeRemer herself to members of her family. Her husband, Shawn DeRemer, an anaesthesiologist, was barred from the Department of Labor's headquarters on Constitution Avenue in Washington after at least two female staff members alleged he had sexually assaulted them by touching them inappropriately inside the building, according to The Irish Times. His lawyer rejected the claims, characterizing them as part of an effort to force his wife from office, and police and prosecutors declined to pursue charges. Her father was separately suspected of sending lewd messages to female employees of the department, according to reporting by ANSA and Spiegel Online. A New York Times account cited by multiple outlets described the department under Chavez-DeRemer as a toxic workplace characterized by an absentee secretary, hostile aides, and deeply demoralized staff. The White House nonetheless praised her record.

„She has done a phenomenal job in her role by protecting American workers, enacting fair labour practices, and helping Americans gain additional skills to improve their lives.” — Steven Cheung via Reuters

Chavez-DeRemer, born April 7, 1968, served as the U.S. Representative for Oregon's fifth congressional district before her Cabinet appointment. She was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in March 2025 by a vote of 67 to 32, with more than a dozen Democrats joining Republicans in backing her, a margin that reflected her relatively broad appeal, including support from trade unions. She had lost her 2024 congressional re-election bid after one term in office. Her nomination had been welcomed by unions skeptical of Trump's second-term agenda for workers, given her background as the daughter of a member of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters union.

Third woman out as Trump's Cabinet reshuffles continue Chavez-DeRemer's exit followed those of Kristi Noem, who was fired as Secretary of Homeland Security in March 2026, and Pam Bondi, who left as Attorney General less than a month after Noem's departure. Bondi's exit had been explained by the White House using the same "private sector" formula applied to Chavez-DeRemer, according to El País. Reuters reported that Trump had grown frustrated with Bondi over her handling of files related to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and her pace in pursuing criminal cases against the president's critics. Noem was subsequently redirected to a symbolic role overseeing migration policy and security with Central and South American countries, according to La Repubblica. Commentators cited by ANSA noted that two figures who have faced their own controversies — Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth and FBI Director Kash Patel — remain in their posts, prompting some observers to argue the departures reflect a pattern in which women have disproportionately exited the administration. Chavez-DeRemer's 13-month tenure at the Labor Department also saw the agency advance broad deregulation measures, including proposals to eliminate the minimum wage for home caregivers and revise safety standards in construction and mining, according to Mediafax.

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