The Senate on Monday confirmed Lori Chavez-DeRemer as secretary of the Department of Labor as President Trump works to round out his Cabinet.
Ms. Chavez-DeRemer, who enjoyed support from both labor unions and business leaders, breezed across the finish line on a 67-32 vote.
“The Biden administration used its authority as a weapon against workers, threatening their ability to earn a living and provide for their families. With President Trump back in office, we have an opportunity to enact a pro-America agenda at the Department of Labor that puts workers first,” said Sen. Bill Cassidy, Louisiana Republican.
During her confirmation hearing, Ms. Chavez-DeRemer, a one-time GOP congresswoman from Oregon, assured Republicans she would not interfere with right-to-work laws that let workers decline membership in a union.
A handful of Republicans weren’t convinced, citing her previous stances against such laws, and voted “no,” including Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.
“Most Americans believe joining a union should be a personal choice — not a mandate — which is why more than half the states, including Kentucky, have adopted right-to-work laws. Secretary Chavez-DeRemer will have a critical opportunity to put the interests of working families ahead of Big Labor bosses by empowering every American worker to join a union on their terms. I hope she takes it,” Mr. McConnell said.
Some Democrats voted in support of Ms. Chavez-DeRemer, after urging her in recent weeks to lean into her union experience and support a higher minimum wage.
Mr. Trump’s nominees are winding their way through the Senate confirmation process, successfully so far, although Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth needed a tiebreaking vote from Vice President J.D. Vance to be confirmed.
Ms. Chavez-DeRemer served as mayor of Happy Valley, Oregon, near Portland from 2011 to 2019 and served one term in the U.S. House. She ran for reelection last year but was defeated by Democrat Janelle Bynum.
Weeks later, Mr. Trump selected Ms. Chavez-DeRemer for labor secretary.
“Lori has worked tirelessly with both Business and Labor to build America’s workforce, and support the hardworking men and women of America,” Mr. Trump said in November on Truth Social. “I look forward to working with her to create tremendous opportunity for American Workers, to expand Training and Apprenticeships, to grow wages and improve working conditions, to bring back our Manufacturing jobs. Together, we will achieve historic cooperation between Business and Labor that will restore the American Dream for Working Families.”
