Sonderling acting his way into permanent role atop Labor Department

Acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling appears to be on a glide path to lead his department permanently.Sonderling was promoted to the Department of Labor‘s deputy secretary in April after the dismissal of his former boss, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, amid scandals embroiling her and her husband, Shawn.As a Senate-confirmed deputy secretary, it is widely understood Sonderling can continue in an acting capacity, in part because of former President Joe Biden‘s indefinite nomination of then-Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su after it became evident she did not have enough support among Democrats for the permanent position.

Sonderling also appears to have support from the White House.

“Keith Sonderling is doing a great job serving as the acting Labor Secretary,” one Trump White House official told the Washington Examiner. “Any announcement will be made by the president in due time.”

That news was unexpectedly welcomed by at least one labor union, particularly considering Sonderling’s pro-business policy record.

“We’ve had some meetings with Sonderling,” one union official told the Washington Examiner on the condition of anonymity. “He’s a smart person.”