Donald J.Trump nominates Keith Sonderling as permanent Secretary of Labor
Sonderling has served as acting secretary and held prior roles at the Department of Labor during Trump's first term.
WHITE HOUSE — Donald J.Trump announced his nomination of Keith Sonderling as permanent United States Secretary of Labor on a Truth Social post on June 29, 2026 at 5:51 PM EST.
Here is the full post (see truthsocial): “It is my Great Honor to announce that I am nominating Keith E. Sonderling, the outstanding Acting United States Secretary of Labor, to be permanent. Keith previously served as Deputy Secretary and Chief Operating Officer and, during my First Term, worked at the U.S. Department of Labor as the Acting and Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division. Throughout his career, 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. Thank you for your attention to this matter! Donald J.Trump”
Sonderling has held several senior positions within the Department of Labor. He served as Deputy Secretary and Chief Operating Officer before stepping into the acting secretary role. Trump also credited Sonderling’s tenure as Acting and Deputy Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division during the president’s first term.
The Secretary of Labor oversees the Department of Labor, which enforces federal workplace laws covering wages, safety, benefits and employment rights. The department plays a central role in shaping labor market regulations that affect millions of American workers. A permanent secretary would set the direction for enforcement priorities, rulemaking and worker protection efforts across the administration.
Sonderling’s nomination now heads to the United States Senate for confirmation. Senators on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee would hold hearings before the full chamber votes on the appointment. The timeline for confirmation remains unclear.
In the last 30 days, 40 of 564 Trump posts addressed domestic policy topics, according to Zenger analysis.
Source: Zenger real-time database of all Truth Social posts.
Note: Chart generated on June 29, 2026 at 5:57 PM EST
Source: Zenger analysis
Note: Table generated by NewsFindr on June 29, 2026 at 5:57 PM EST