Sonderling’s confirmation puts a Senate-approved official back at the top of the Labor Department following the April departure of former Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer.
Republicans had cleared the biggest procedural hurdle earlier Wednesday.
The Senate voted 53–47 to invoke cloture on Sonderling’s nomination, setting up the final confirmation vote later that evening. All 53 senators voting for cloture were Republicans, while Democrats and independents opposed the motion.
For Sonderling, however, taking charge of the department is nothing new.
He has effectively been running it since April, when he moved from deputy secretary to acting secretary following Chavez-DeRemer’s exit. Trump subsequently chose him to take over the Cabinet position permanently.
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee advanced the nomination 12–11 in July, another closely divided vote that foreshadowed the partisan battle awaiting Sonderling on the Senate floor.
Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, the Republican chairman of the HELP Committee, backed Sonderling during the confirmation process.
“It is clear Mr. Sonderling is qualified,” Cassidy said while supporting the nomination during committee consideration.
“As Secretary, I’m confident that he will protect workers, help businesses create more jobs,” Cassidy continued.
Cassidy also said Sonderling would “help workers navigate AI-driven changes in the workforce.”
Artificial intelligence and its growing role in employment could become one of the defining issues of Sonderling’s tenure.
Sonderling has previously discussed both the potential advantages and legal risks created by artificial intelligence in the workplace. While serving on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, he encouraged employers to audit algorithms for potentially biased results before deploying them in employment decisions.
Trump offered his own strong endorsement when announcing Sonderling as his choice to permanently run the department.
“It is my Great Honor” to nominate Sonderling, Trump wrote while announcing his decision on Truth Social.
Trump described Sonderling as the “outstanding Acting United States Secretary of Labor” and pointed to his years of experience dealing with federal employment policy.
“Throughout his career, Keith has proven his dedication to delivering strong results for the Hardworking People of our Country,” Trump said.
“I know he will do an incredible job in his new role,” the president added.
Sonderling brings an extensive résumé in labor and employment policy to the Cabinet.
Trump initially selected him to become deputy labor secretary in January 2025. The Senate confirmed him to that position two months later by a 53–46 vote.
That was hardly Sonderling’s first experience inside the federal government.
During Trump’s first administration, he held leadership positions within the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division. He later became a Republican commissioner on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, serving there from 2020 until 2024.
Before entering federal service, Sonderling worked as a labor and employment attorney in Florida. He also taught employment law at George Washington University Law School.
His regulatory philosophy has attracted support from employer groups while drawing opposition from Democrats, labor advocates and unions.
Supporters have pointed to his experience handling complicated employment regulations and his willingness to promote regulatory approaches intended to give businesses greater certainty. Critics, meanwhile, have raised concerns over worker protections, union rights and policies affecting independent contractors.
Those fights could become increasingly important as the administration continues reshaping federal labor policy.
Independent-contractor classification is particularly significant for industries such as trucking, where large numbers of workers operate under contractor arrangements.
Sonderling also arrives at the department as businesses confront rapid changes caused by automation and artificial intelligence — areas in which he has already developed a substantial policy record.
Wednesday night’s vote therefore did more than change the word “acting” on Sonderling’s title.
It gave Trump a Senate-confirmed official to carry out the administration’s labor agenda for the remainder of his second term.
And after months of already running the department, Sonderling will not need much time to learn where the levers are.
He now has the Senate’s formal approval to pull them.
