U.S. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer has resigned from her position, multiple outlets report.

“Deputy Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling is expected to replace her as acting secretary of the Department of Labor,” the New York Post stated.

Chavez-DeRemer’s resignation comes amid an internal probe into alleged misconduct, which already resulted in several of her staff members being placed on administrative leave and then leaving their positions.

More from the New York Post:

The Post first exposed a whistleblower complaint filed against the labor secretary in January that alleged she drank in the office during work hours, created a hostile work environment with her top aides and was pursuing an extramarital affair with her security guard.

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The complaint also claimed she committed “travel fraud” by having those aides — chief of staff Jihun Han and deputy Rebecca Wright — “make up” official trips to destinations where she could spend time with family or friends on the taxpayers’ dime.

“While she continues to strongly dispute the allegations that have been raised, Secretary Chavez-DeRemer believes it is in the best interest of the country to allow the administration to remain fully focused on delivering results for the American people,” said her personal attorney Nick Oberheiden in a statement.

“She is grateful for the opportunity to serve and remains committed to supporting the President’s agenda moving forward.”

White House and DOL reps said that the allegations were “baseless” and “categorically false” when first reported Jan. 9.

“Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer will be leaving the Administration to take a position in the private sector. 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,” White House spokesman Steven Cheung said.

NOTUS shared further:

Chavez-DeRemer’s exit marks the third Cabinet secretary to be removed since January, in a soft shake-up of officials ahead of the midterm elections. All three ousted secretaries were women.

A source close to the president told NOTUS last week that the White House viewed Chavez-DeRemer as an effective spokesperson for the president’s economic message and implementer of workforce policy. But the tales of the labor secretary’s alleged scandals had become palace intrigue among people close to and inside of the White House.

Two Republicans who speak with President Donald Trump told NOTUS they expected him to pull the trigger on removing Chavez-DeRemer on Wednesday, when she was due for what was expected to be a bruising hearing in Congress. Some inside the White House anticipated Democrats at the hearing would focus on Chavez-DeRemer’s alleged transgressions.

Chavez-DeRemer was sworn in last March. She had served in the House, representing Oregon’s 5th Congressional District for one term, before losing reelection in 2024 and then taking a role in Trump’s Cabinet.

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She was confirmed in a 67-32 vote, with Sen. Rand Paul as the only Republican to vote against her confirmation. Fifteen Democrats chose to back her.

Last Wednesday, the New York Times reported that the Labor Department’s investigation was reviewing texts and requests from Chavez-DeRemer, her family and her top aides to younger staff at the department.

 

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