Dems Revolt Against Schumer And Side With Trump

President Donald Trump secured another key Cabinet confirmation Wednesday night as the Senate approved Keith Sonderling to lead the Department of Labor, overcoming unified opposition from participating Democrats and independents.

Sonderling was confirmed in a 47–41 vote, formally putting him in charge of the powerful department after months of serving in an acting capacity following former Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s departure from the administration.

The final vote came at 9:29 p.m., just before senators prepared to leave Washington ahead of November’s consequential midterm elections.

Twelve senators did not vote.

Hours earlier, Republicans pushed Sonderling’s nomination through a critical procedural hurdle, invoking cloture by a 53–47 vote and clearing the way for his final confirmation.

Every Republican supported advancing the nomination during the cloture vote, while Democrats and independents unanimously opposed moving forward.

But Sonderling was hardly a newcomer to the department he will now officially lead.

He had already been running the Labor Department since April, when Chavez-DeRemer left Trump’s Cabinet.

Trump designated Sonderling acting secretary on April 20 before formally nominating him for the permanent position on June 29.

His nomination then survived a razor-thin vote in the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which advanced him 12–11 on July 30.

Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy, R-La., strongly backed Sonderling and argued that his experience made him well suited to take permanent control of the department.

“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.”

Trump was equally enthusiastic when announcing Sonderling as his permanent choice over the summer.

“It is my Great Honor” to nominate Sonderling, Trump wrote while announcing his decision on Truth Social.

Trump called Sonderling the “outstanding Acting United States Secretary of Labor” and pointed to his extensive experience inside the federal government.

“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 takes control of the Labor Department with years of experience spanning employment law, federal regulation and the inner workings of the department itself.

The Senate previously confirmed him as Trump’s deputy labor secretary in March 2025 by a 53–46 vote.

In that position, Sonderling oversaw major day-to-day department operations, including strategic planning, budgeting, technology, financial management and human resources.

His ties to the Labor Department stretch back even further.

During Trump’s first administration, Sonderling served in the department’s Wage and Hour Division. He was later confirmed by the Senate in 2020 as a Republican commissioner on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Before entering government, Sonderling practiced labor and employment law in Florida, representing employers in workplace disputes and regulatory matters.

More recently, he has helped carry out Trump administration priorities involving deregulation, apprenticeships, domestic manufacturing and workforce pathways outside traditional four-year college degrees.

The department has also pursued changes involving independent contractors—an issue with major implications for industries including trucking.

Business organizations quickly welcomed Sonderling’s confirmation.

The American Trucking Associations had strongly supported his nomination, pointing in particular to his approach toward independent-contractor regulations affecting hundreds of thousands of truckers.

The organization said American workers deserve “steady, thoughtful leadership” from the Labor Department as businesses and employees navigate a rapidly changing economy.

ATA official Henry Hanscom praised Sonderling’s “deep workforce expertise, strong policy judgment, and proven agency-management experience.”

“We congratulate him on this well-deserved promotion,” Hanscom said following Wednesday night’s Senate vote.

For Trump, the confirmation fills another Cabinet post with a Senate-approved official after Chavez-DeRemer’s departure left the department under acting leadership for months.

But unlike an outsider arriving to take control, Sonderling has already effectively been running the department for much of 2026.

His progression has been rapid: deputy labor secretary, acting secretary and now the Senate-confirmed head of the department.

Wednesday night’s confirmation also arrived during the Senate’s final burst of business before lawmakers headed home to campaign ahead of the midterm elections.

Republicans ultimately supplied the votes Trump needed despite opposition from every participating Democrat and independent.

Sonderling now assumes formal responsibility for overseeing federal labor policy through the remainder of Trump’s second term.

After spending roughly five months doing the job on an acting basis, Sonderling no longer has “acting” attached to his title.

The Senate vote made it official.