Trump’s Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer quits after misconduct probe
Third cabinet official to step down in recent weeks, following Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem
Author of the article
enette Wilford
Published Apr 21, 2026 • 2 minute read
Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer speaks during a House Committee on Education and Workforce hearing on Capitol Hill on June 5, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer speaks during a House Committee on Education and Workforce hearing on Capitol Hill on June 5, 2025 in Washington, DC. Photo by Andrew Harnik /Getty Images
Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer is leaving the Trump administration.
Chavez-DeRemer is moving onto a position in the private sector, White House communications director Steven Cheung said on Monday, while Deputy Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling will take on the role of acting secretary.
“She has done a phenomenal job in her role by protecting American workers, enacting fair labor practices, and helping Americans gain additional skills to improve their lives,” Cheung posted on X.
Chavez-DeRemer, 58, is the third cabinet official to depart in recent weeks, following Attorney General Pam Bondi, who was fired earlier this month, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who was replaced in March.
She also happens to be the fifth staffer in the Department of Labor to be investigated and resign following an extensive inquiry by the Office of Inspector General, the New York Times reported.
In Chavez-DeRemer’s case, the watchdog had been looking at text messages sent by the ex-labour minister, her top aides and family members to young staffers.
A complaint filed against Chavez-DeRemer in January alleged that she drank in the office during work hours, pursued an affair with security guard Brian Sloan, and she and her aides — chief of staff Jihun Han and deputy Rebecca Wright — created a hostile work environment, according to the outlet.
The complaint also accused Chavez-DeRemer, Han and Wright of committing “travel fraud” by billing taxpayers for supposed official trips to destinations where the labour minister could spend time with family or friends.
Her husband, Dr. Shawn DeRemer, was barred from the department’s D.C. headquarters after two women who work there reported that he had touched them inappropriately, sources told CBS News earlier this year. The Portland, Ore.-based anesthesiologist was cleared of the federal charges.
Lori Chavez-DeRemer and husband Dr. Shawn DeRemer.
Lori Chavez-DeRemer and husband Dr. Shawn DeRemer. (X) Photo by Lori Chavez-DeRemer /X
Other texts showed the secretary’s father, Richard Chavez, asking a young female staffer to keep a conversation “private” after saying he “could made some excuses to get out an show u around,” according to the Times.
Chavez-DeRemer, Han, Wright and Sloan were placed on leave for a duration of the investigation, with the aides being accused of exerting improper influence over junior staff and verbally abusing some — as well as providing “cover” for the secretary’s alleged misconduct, sources said told the outlet.
Han and Wright resigned on March 3, the bodyguard, Brian Sloan, resigned on March 19, and a fourth aide, Melissa Robey, left the department on March 25.
Following Monday’s announcement, Chavez-DeRemer wrote on X that she was honoured to “have served under the most pro-worker president in U.S. history.”
She also maintained her innocence following the probe.
“The allegations against me, my family, and my team have been peddled by high-ranked deep state actors who have been coordinating with the one-sided news media and continue to undermine President Trump’s mission.”
She added: “I look forward to continuing to fight the good fight from the outside and always advocating for the American worker.”
cbsnews.com
torontosun.com
Third cabinet official to step down in recent weeks, following Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem
Author of the article
enette WilfordPublished Apr 21, 2026 • 2 minute read
Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer speaks during a House Committee on Education and Workforce hearing on Capitol Hill on June 5, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer speaks during a House Committee on Education and Workforce hearing on Capitol Hill on June 5, 2025 in Washington, DC. Photo by Andrew Harnik /Getty Images
Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer is leaving the Trump administration.
Chavez-DeRemer is moving onto a position in the private sector, White House communications director Steven Cheung said on Monday, while Deputy Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling will take on the role of acting secretary.
“She has done a phenomenal job in her role by protecting American workers, enacting fair labor practices, and helping Americans gain additional skills to improve their lives,” Cheung posted on X.
Chavez-DeRemer, 58, is the third cabinet official to depart in recent weeks, following Attorney General Pam Bondi, who was fired earlier this month, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who was replaced in March.
She also happens to be the fifth staffer in the Department of Labor to be investigated and resign following an extensive inquiry by the Office of Inspector General, the New York Times reported.
In Chavez-DeRemer’s case, the watchdog had been looking at text messages sent by the ex-labour minister, her top aides and family members to young staffers.
A complaint filed against Chavez-DeRemer in January alleged that she drank in the office during work hours, pursued an affair with security guard Brian Sloan, and she and her aides — chief of staff Jihun Han and deputy Rebecca Wright — created a hostile work environment, according to the outlet.
The complaint also accused Chavez-DeRemer, Han and Wright of committing “travel fraud” by billing taxpayers for supposed official trips to destinations where the labour minister could spend time with family or friends.
Her husband, Dr. Shawn DeRemer, was barred from the department’s D.C. headquarters after two women who work there reported that he had touched them inappropriately, sources told CBS News earlier this year. The Portland, Ore.-based anesthesiologist was cleared of the federal charges.
Lori Chavez-DeRemer and husband Dr. Shawn DeRemer.
Lori Chavez-DeRemer and husband Dr. Shawn DeRemer. (X) Photo by Lori Chavez-DeRemer /X
Other texts showed the secretary’s father, Richard Chavez, asking a young female staffer to keep a conversation “private” after saying he “could made some excuses to get out an show u around,” according to the Times.
Chavez-DeRemer, Han, Wright and Sloan were placed on leave for a duration of the investigation, with the aides being accused of exerting improper influence over junior staff and verbally abusing some — as well as providing “cover” for the secretary’s alleged misconduct, sources said told the outlet.
Han and Wright resigned on March 3, the bodyguard, Brian Sloan, resigned on March 19, and a fourth aide, Melissa Robey, left the department on March 25.
Following Monday’s announcement, Chavez-DeRemer wrote on X that she was honoured to “have served under the most pro-worker president in U.S. history.”
She also maintained her innocence following the probe.
“The allegations against me, my family, and my team have been peddled by high-ranked deep state actors who have been coordinating with the one-sided news media and continue to undermine President Trump’s mission.”
She added: “I look forward to continuing to fight the good fight from the outside and always advocating for the American worker.”
Labor secretary's husband won't face charges after being banned from Labor Dept. building, sources say
Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer's husband was banned from the Labor Department building after agency employees alleged he had touched them inappropriately, sources said.
cbsnews.com
Trump’s Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer quits after misconduct probe
Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer is leaving the Trump administration. Read on for why.