Keith Sonderling Sworn In as 31st U.S. Secretary of Labor
Keith Sonderling was sworn in Oct. 2 as the 31st Labor Secretary after Senate confirmation, having led the department as acting secretary since April 2026.
Keith Sonderling was officially sworn in as the 31st U.S. Secretary of Labor on Oct. 2, with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent administering the oath in the Oval Office. President Donald Trump had nominated Sonderling on June 29, and the Senate confirmed him on Sept. 30 after he had already been serving as Acting Secretary since April 2026.
Sonderling previously served as Deputy Secretary of Labor following Senate confirmation in March 2025, overseeing the department's day-to-day operations including budget formulation, strategic planning, information technology, and human resources. Before that role, he led Trump's Department of Labor transition team after four years as a Commissioner of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, where he served as Vice Chair from 2020 to 2021.
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During his time at the EEOC, Sonderling emerged as a prominent voice on artificial superintelligence in the workplace, publishing and speaking internationally on the subject. His government portfolio extends beyond the Labor Department: Trump designated him Acting Director of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics in June 2026, a role he continues to hold concurrently. He has also served as Acting Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development during Trump's second term.
In a statement following his swearing-in, Sonderling said his mission is to ensure American workers have the skills and resources to access job opportunities being generated under the current administration. Prior to his government career, he was a partner at Gunster, a prominent Florida law firm, where he practiced labor and employment law.
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