President Donald Trump has nominated Keith Sonderling to become the next permanent United States secretary of labor. Sonderling is now serving as acting labor secretary after Lori Chavez-DeRemer left the position in April. The nomination now moves to the Senate, where lawmakers will decide whether to confirm him. Trump announced the decision in a post on his social media platform. He praised Sonderling for his work in government and said he has shown strong leadership during his time in public service. Trump said Sonderling has worked hard for American workers and has delivered results in several key positions. The president also highlighted Sonderling’s past experience. He noted that Sonderling served as deputy secretary and chief operating officer at the Department of Labor. During Trump's first term, Sonderling also worked as acting and deputy administrator of the Wage and Hour Division. Trump said this background makes him well prepared to lead the department on a permanent basis. Sonderling responded with a message of thanks. He said he was honored by Trump's trust and confidence. He added that serving in both Trump administrations has been one of the greatest honors of his career. The acting labor secretary said he is ready to continue serving the country if the Senate confirms his nomination. He said he wants to support workers, families, unions, employers, and job creators while helping carry out the administration’s labor policies. The Department of Labor plays an important role in the United States. It oversees workplace rules, wage laws, worker safety, job training, unemployment programs, and labor relations. The secretary of labor also works closely with businesses, labor groups, and state governments on employment issues across the country. Sonderling has recently attracted national attention because of his actions involving unemployment insurance programs. In June, he sent letters to officials in all 50 states, along with several US territories. The letters urged them to take stronger steps to stop waste, fraud, and abuse within unemployment systems. He warned that the federal government could withhold administrative funding from states that fail to address fraud. He said taxpayer money must be protected and that the department is prepared to use every legal tool available to improve oversight. According to Sonderling, governors have been placed on notice that stronger action is expected. He argued that the public should not have to pay for misuse of government funds. His comments marked one of the strongest warnings issued by the department on unemployment oversight. During a television interview, Sonderling said some states face higher levels of unemployment fraud than others. He specifically mentioned California, New York, and Illinois. However, he did not present public evidence to support those claims during the interview. He also said that states failing to improve oversight could lose administrative funding used to operate unemployment insurance programs. His remarks sparked debate about how the federal government should work with states to prevent fraud while keeping benefits available for eligible workers. Sonderling became acting labor secretary after Lori Chavez-DeRemer left office in April. Her departure followed misconduct allegations that led to an internal investigation. The allegations included claims about inappropriate personal conduct, misuse of staff, and questions surrounding travel expenses. Separate allegations were also made involving her husband. Those matters contributed to increased public attention before her resignation. Before leading the Department of Labor, Sonderling held several senior government positions. He served as a commissioner at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, where he worked on workplace discrimination and employment law matters. He later became deputy labor secretary under the Trump administration. In 2025, Sonderling also served as acting director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services. He additionally held the position of acting under secretary of commerce for minority business development, expanding his experience across several federal agencies. The Senate will now review Trump's nomination. Senators are expected to examine Sonderling's record, policy positions, and plans for the Department of Labor before holding a confirmation vote. If approved, he will officially become the nation's labor secretary and continue leading federal efforts on jobs, workplace protections, labor policy, and employment programs.