Chavez-DeRemer Confirmed As Trump’s Labor Chief With Dem Support

In a 67-32 vote on Monday, the Senate easily confirmed former Representative Lori Chavez-DeRemer to be President Trump’s Labor secretary.

Why it’s important Trump’s attempt to undermine Democrats’ long-standing alliance with organized labor is demonstrated by his selection of Chavez-DeRemer, whose father was a Teamsters member, for the position.

Sens. Tedd Budd (N.C.) and Rand Paul (Ky.), as well as former GOP leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), were among the three Republicans who opposed Chavez-DeRemer’s nomination, which was supported by 17 Democrats.

D-Pa. Senator John Fetterman abstained from voting.

Quickly catch up: On February 27, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee voted 14–9 in favor of Chavez-DeRemer’s nomination.

After Rand Paul (R-Ky.) voted against Seb, Chavez-DeRemer became the first well-known Trump nominee to need Democratic backing to pass committee consideration.

Together with the other Republicans on the committee, Democrats Tim Kaine (Va.), John Hickenlooper (Colo.), and Maggie Hassan (N.H.) voted in favor.

Zoom in: In order to justify his opposition, Paul has pointed to Chavez-DeRemer’s prior backing of the Pro Act, which would erode state anti-union legislation and grant organized labor greater authority.

During her one term in the House, she was one of only three Republicans to co-sponsor the bill, which is despised by conservative organizations, the majority of Republicans, and the business lobby.

Zoom out: Trump ran as a somewhat pro-labor and pro-worker candidate, but during his first term, he appointed individuals with anti-union backgrounds to positions at the Department of Labor and the National Labor Relations Board.

These organizations later took actions that were thought to be detrimental to employees, such as restricting overtime benefits.

Sean O’Brien, the president of Teamsters, pushed for Chavez-DeRemer to be nominated.

The chairman of the HELP panel, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La), stated on Monday that “the Biden administration used its authority as a weapon against workers, threatening their ability to earn a living and provide for their families.”

“With President Trump back in office, we have an opportunity to enact a pro-America agenda at the Department of Labor that puts workers first,” he stated.