Senate Blocks Four Trump Labor Nominees Over Scathing Report on Former Secretary

A recent inspector general’s report detailing multiple violations by former Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer has prompted Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.) to place holds on four nominees for federal labor-related positions nominated by President Donald Trump.

Cassidy stated that following the completion of the investigation, “we need answers” as members and staff were not briefed on the findings. He emphasized that the HELP Committee would not consider additional labor nominees until bipartisan members and staff are fully informed.

The 44-page report substantiates multiple violations by Chavez-DeRemer and four other former Labor Department officials. Investigators conducted interviews with 53 current and former department employees, as well as one employee from another federal agency, and reviewed over 500 documents, images, and videos.

Thirty-eight witnesses described Chavez-DeRemer’s office as “toxic, intimidating and humiliating,” reporting instances of demeaning treatment, threats of termination, and fear of retaliation for raising concerns or speaking with investigators. The report concluded that Chavez-DeRemer violated federal workplace, travel, alcohol, and ethics policies—including failing to comply with the department’s anti-harassment policy, improperly combining personal and official travel, consuming alcohol on federal property without authorization, directing government employees to perform personal tasks, and failing to properly report gifts.

Chavez-DeRemer, a former Oregon congresswoman who resigned in April—just one day before her scheduled interview with investigators—did not respond to requests for comment. Her attorney declined to make her available. The nominees affected by Cassidy’s holds include Mike Doyle for the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, Walter Darr for the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, Doug Ralph and Loren Sweatt for the National Mediation Board. Keith Sonderling, nominated by Trump to replace Chavez-DeRemer, is awaiting a vote from the full Senate.