Senators closely questioned Department of Labor (DOL) Deputy Secretary nominee Keith Sonderling during his February 27 confirmation hearing before the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee. Sonderling has been nominated to serve in the number 2 spot at DOL. He vowed to undertake a wholesale review of every DOL enforcement division, and to make sure that DOL has the resources it needs to carry out its mission.

Sonderling claimed he had no authority and no knowledge of DOL’s current staff-cutting efforts, saying responsibility for carrying out President Trump’s/the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE’s) orders to cut staff rested with others at the agency. However, he said, DOL’s human resources personnel are following all applicable law as the President’s directives are implemented. He also declined to answer questions about efforts to access DOL’s computer systems, saying that ongoing litigation prevented him from discussing those issues. Sonderling has been serving as a senior advisor to acting DOL Secretary Vince Micone since President Trump’s inauguration January 20.

Prospects: The Senate seems likely to confirm Sonderling, after the Senate HELP Committee voted on March 6, along party lines, to send his nomination to the full Senate. He is expected to champion Trump priorities in the labor space and generally react more favorably to business positions than to organized labor. Washington insiders believe he will have primary say over DOL’s policy portfolio, which includes such issues as the fiduciary rule.

NAIFA Staff Contact: Jayne Fitzgerald – Director – Government Relations, at jfitzgerald@naifa.org