Bipartisan Surprise: Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s Role in Trump’s New Cabinet Revealed

Trump’s labor secretary nominee Lori Chavez-DeRemer has secured Senate confirmation with remarkable bipartisan support, completing the president’s rapid cabinet assembly just seven weeks after inauguration.

Key Takeaways

Lori Chavez-DeRemer was confirmed as labor secretary with a strong bipartisan vote of 67-32, with 17 Democrats supporting her nomination.
Her confirmation marks the completion of President Trump’s second-term Cabinet, with all 21 positions filled within seven weeks of Inauguration Day.
As a former Republican congresswoman from Oregon with union support, Chavez-DeRemer bridges traditional political divides and represents Trump’s outreach to organized labor.
Despite facing opposition from some Republicans concerned about her pro-union positions, her small business background and endorsement from Teamsters President Sean O’Brien bolstered her candidacy.
She will lead a department of nearly 16,000 employees with a proposed budget of $13.9 billion for fiscal year 2025.

Bipartisan Support Secures Confirmation

The Senate confirmed former Oregon congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer as labor secretary with a 67-32 vote, completing President Donald Trump’s second-term cabinet assembly. The strong bipartisan margin included 17 Democratic senators supporting her nomination, showcasing an unusual level of cross-party cooperation in today’s polarized political climate. Chavez-DeRemer’s confirmation stands out notably compared to some of Trump’s other nominees who faced tighter votes.

Chavez-DeRemer represented Oregon’s 5th Congressional District until January 2025, positioning herself as a political moderate on issues like immigration and abortion. Her nomination received crucial backing from major labor interests, including a recommendation from Teamsters President Sean O’Brien, signaling Trump’s strategic outreach to organized labor groups traditionally aligned with Democrats.

Navigating Labor Policy Priorities

Following her confirmation, Chavez-DeRemer expressed gratitude and commitment to American workers stating, “As promised, I’ll work tirelessly to put American Workers First by fighting for good-paying jobs, safe working conditions, and secure retirement benefits.” Her business background as a small business owner, combined with her political experience, positions her uniquely to balance employer and worker interests in implementing labor policies.

Her nomination did face scrutiny from both sides of the aisle. Some Republicans opposed her past support for the PRO Act, which facilitates union organizing. Meanwhile, several Democrats expressed concerns about how independently she would operate within the Trump administration. During her confirmation hearings, she acknowledged that the federal minimum wage has remained unchanged since 2009 but cautioned against economic disruption from sudden increases.

Completing Trump’s Cabinet Assembly

Chavez-DeRemer’s confirmation represents the final piece in President Trump’s rapid cabinet assembly. All 21 Cabinet-level nominees have now been confirmed within seven weeks of Inauguration Day, demonstrating the administration’s efficiency in establishing its leadership team. Among the confirmations, Secretary of State Marco Rubio received unanimous bipartisan support with a 99-0 vote, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth required Vice President JD Vance’s tie-breaking vote.