Congressional Labor Caucus Co-Chairs Statement on Resignation of Labor Secretary Chavez-DeRemer

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Labor Caucus Co-Chairs Donald Norcross (NJ-01), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Steven Horsford (NV-04), and Debbie Dingell (MI-06) issued the following statement in response to the resignation of Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer: 

“As an official in the Trump Administration, Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer directed the systematic dismantling of the Department of Labor. Her leadership compromised workplace safety and has left the American workforce at significantly greater risk.

Secretary Chavez-DeRemer advanced the Administration's anti-worker agenda, facing removal only for the scandals she was involved in, and not the decisions she made that reduced oversight of workplace safety and enforcement of labor laws, leaving workers more vulnerable to injury, wage theft, and exploitation.

Under her leadership, the Department faced persistent allegations of misconduct, abuse, harassment, and retaliation against staff who reported wrongdoing. This environment undermined the agency’s ability to carry out its important mission and weakened enforcement at a time when workers needed it most. Her tenure leaves workers with less protections and greater economic insecurity.

The Department of Labor must recommit to its core purpose: protecting workers, strengthening standards, and ensuring safe, fair workplaces. By raising labor standards for all, the agency can ensure the dignity, safety, and prosperity of every American worker and their family. The next Secretary of Labor must put these workers’ safety and wellbeing ahead of profits. We stand ready to work with the next Secretary to deliver for working people across the country and look forward to expanding paths to opportunity, strengthening our economy, and putting workers first.”