President Donald Trump has nominated Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling for the position of Secretary of Labor.
President Trump wrote on Truth Social, “Keith has proven his dedication to delivering strong results for the Hardworking People of our Country, and I know he will do an incredible job in his new role.”
Sonderling served in President Trump’s first term as Deputy Administrator of the Wage and Hour Labor Division. Sonderling was instrumental in the formation and language incorporated in the 2020 and 2026 Trump Independent Contractor rules, which weigh heavily in favor of independent contractors maintaining their status, freedom, and flexibility.
While running the Wage and Hour Division, Sonderling ruled that gig workers are independent contractors, not employees of the entity that oversees the gig work.
While President Joe Biden was in office, the Labor Department withdrew that opinion. After Donald Trump returned to the White House, the department reinstated the opinion.
Protecting independent contracting has long been a priority for Independent Women, as flexible work is how millions of workers, especially women, remain active in the workforce. The battle to allow freelancers, self-employed professionals, and even gig workers marches on, but we are encouraged by the Department of Labor’s new proposed rule on independent contractors. As we wrote in Independent Women’s comment, the rule provides greater clarity and certainty for the business and independent worker community.
In his current role as Acting Secretary, Sonderling has been a strong advocate for the president’s agenda to bring more manufacturing jobs back to the U.S., as well as for expanding apprenticeships through the U.S. Department of Labor to small businesses and private-sector manufacturers. Importantly, those that are not only union-sanctioned. Sonderling has long championed the American worker and has received high marks from employers, employees, and business leaders in the public and private sectors.
Sonderling has also defined benefit pension plan sponsors’ efforts to use group annuities to protect pension benefits through pension risk transfers, and the allowance of employer retirement plan options such as cryptocurrency assets or private credit funds.
The National Council of Agriculture Employers had glowing words for Sonderling’s nomination.
At every step in his career, Acting Secretary Sonderling has demonstrated that he is not only a friend to the American farmer, but that he is also a champion for our agricultural economy. From helping to spearhead the development of the Interim Final Rule Secretary, to his stewardship of the rule’s implementation, NCAE members have always been confident that we had an ally in Acting Secretary Sonderling.
We are eager to support Acting Secretary Sonderling’s nomination, and to work with the Trump Administration to secure the broad bipartisan support in the Senate that his nomination merits.
Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), who chairs the Senate HELP Committee, also had nothing but praise for Sonderling. Cassidy posted on X:
Sonderling has been serving as Acting Labor Secretary since April, after former Congresswoman and former Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigned amid allegations of misconduct and scandal.
Sonderling responded to President Trump’s Truth Social post:
I am deeply grateful to President Trump for his trust and confidence.
Serving in both of President Trump’s Administrations has been the greatest honor of my life.
If confirmed by the Senate, I look forward to continuing that service as Secretary of Labor and advancing the President’s agenda on behalf of America’s workers, families, unions, and job creators.
It is anticipated that Sonderling will receive a smooth reception through the confirmation process.
It’s important that the DOL be led by someone who respects worker freedom, from the choice to join a union or not to the choice to become someone else’s employee or to work for oneself. Sonderling seems to pass on all accounts.