US Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer Resigns Amid Misconduct Allegations

Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigned as United States Secretary of Labor on April 20, 2026, becoming the third woman to leave President Donald Trump's cabinet in less than two months, following the departures of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Attorney General Pam Bondi. White House Director of Communications Steven Cheung announced the departure on X, stating that Chavez-DeRemer "will be leaving the Administration to take a position in the private sector." Cheung added that she "has done a phenomenal job in her role by protecting American workers, enacting fair labor practices, and helping Americans gain additional skills to improve their lives." Keith Sonderling, her deputy, will serve as acting Secretary of Labor until a permanent replacement is named. Chavez-DeRemer had led the department since March 2025, having previously served as a U.S. representative for Oregon.

Affair allegations and misuse of funds drove the probe Chavez-DeRemer had been under investigation since January 2026, following a probe launched by the Department of Labor Inspector General Anthony D'Esposito into claims that she was involved in a sexual relationship with a member of her security detail. According to CNN, as cited by Deutsche Welle, Chavez-DeRemer also requested that official work trips be arranged to allow her to attend UFC mixed martial arts fights, concerts, and visits to friends and family in other cities, effectively using government travel resources for personal purposes. She was further accused of demanding that employees purchase alcohol for her and of keeping a supply of alcohol in her office. Three female employees described a "hostile work environment" involving retaliatory measures, according to reporting by The New York Times and the New York Post cited by Tagesschau. Chavez-DeRemer rejected the allegations. Two of her top aides, including her chief of staff and deputy chief of staff, resigned in March 2026 amid the internal probe into whether they committed travel fraud by organizing official events as cover for personal travel.

Husband banned from headquarters over assault claims The misconduct investigation extended beyond Chavez-DeRemer herself. Her husband, Shawn DeRemer, was banned from the Department of Labor's headquarters after two female staff members alleged that he had sexually assaulted them, according to The New York Times as cited by Rolling Stone. Those claims were uncovered as part of the same inspector general investigation into misconduct by Chavez-DeRemer and her senior staff. According to ANSA, her father was also suspected of sending lewd messages to female employees. The accumulation of allegations across multiple individuals connected to the secretary added to the pressure on her position in the weeks before her resignation. Chavez-DeRemer had been considered an unusual pick for the role at the time of her nomination, given her relatively pro-union positions compared to many Republicans in the Trump administration.

Chavez-DeRemer's departure is the latest in a pattern of high-level exits from Trump's second-term cabinet. Kristi Noem was removed as Secretary of Homeland Security in March 2026, and Pam Bondi left as Attorney General in early April 2026. Trump's first term was also marked by frequent turnover among senior officials. Chavez-DeRemer had served as the U.S. representative for Oregon's fifth congressional district before her cabinet appointment in March 2025.

Kash Patel sues The Atlantic for $250 million over misconduct claims Chavez-DeRemer's exit arrived alongside scrutiny of other Trump administration officials. The Atlantic published a report on FBI Director Kash Patel that included allegations of "excessive drinking" and "conspicuous inebriation and unexplained absences" in his role as FBI director. Patel denied the allegations and on Monday filed a defamation lawsuit in U.S. district court. 250 (million USD) — Patel's defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called for Patel's immediate resignation on X, writing that "Americans deserve steady, SOBER leadership from their FBI Director." „Every day he remains in office is a national security risk.” — Chuck Schumer via The Guardian According to Politico, as cited by Deutsche Welle, Trump is also considering further cabinet reshuffles and plans to remove those "who are not coping with their duties or are causing too much negativity." The Atlantic separately reported that the White House is discussing the possible departures of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Patel, and Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll, though no official announcements have been made.

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