Keith Sonderling has formally taken office as U.S. secretary of labor, establishing new leadership at the federal agency responsible for workplace standards, wage and hour rules, worker protections and employment policy.
Sonderling was sworn in during a ceremony in the Oval Office administered by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. He had served as acting secretary since April 2026 after previously holding the deputy secretary position.
President Donald Trump announced Sonderling’s nomination on June 29, and the Senate confirmed him on Sept. 30. The department’s announcement, issued Oct. 9, stated that he was officially sworn in on Oct. 2.
Sonderling previously oversaw the Department of Labor’s day-to-day operations, including strategic planning, budget development, financial management, information technology and human resources.
He served as a commissioner of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission from September 2020 through August 2024, including a term as vice chair. Earlier, from 2017 to 2020, he held leadership and policy roles in the department’s Wage and Hour Division.
Before entering government, Sonderling was a partner at Florida law firm Gunster, where he practised labor and employment law. He also continues to serve concurrently as acting director of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, according to the department.
Federal labor leadership matters to construction employers because the industry relies on large workforces, subcontracting arrangements and compliance with employment requirements. The Department of Labor administers policies and enforcement activities affecting wage and hour obligations and other workplace standards.
Sonderling’s appointment establishes the department’s confirmed leadership, but the announcement does not outline new construction-specific regulations or policy changes. Contractors and construction owners should assess any future department guidance or rulemaking separately before making operational or compliance decisions.
Source: Keith.
