Trump wants to keep acting Labor Secretary Sonderling in the position permanently

Background on the personnel matter

The Department of Labor is among the agencies whose political leadership has been filled anew several times during Trump's second term. With the planned nomination of Sonderling, the President aims, according to his own statements, to ensure continuity in the conduct of office. No specific date for the official nomination or a Senate vote was initially given.

A prerequisite for a permanent appointment is confirmation by the Senate. Republicans have held the majority there since the November 2024 congressional election. Following intra-party changes, they hold 53 of the 100 seats, the Democrats 45 (plus two independent senators who caucus with the Democrats). This would make a majority for Sonderling fundamentally achievable, provided there is no bipartisan resistance.

The personnel decision comes in a phase in which Trump has filled several ministries and federal agencies with confidants or interim officials. Observers point out that acting heads sometimes run operations for months before a nomination process is initiated. With the announced nomination of Sonderling, this state of affairs would now be formalized.

Sonderling's role in the department

Sonderling had already served in a leading position at the Department of Labor before his acting role and is regarded in Washington as an experienced civil servant. Trump emphasized in his statement that Sonderling had proven himself "ausgezeichnet" during the interim period. The Department of Labor is responsible, among other things, for labor market statistics, minimum wage regulations, and the enforcement of workplace safety laws.

The announcement is part of a series of personnel decisions by Trump. Reports about possible changes at the top of other agencies had surfaced only recently. Some of the special envoys and acting heads appointed by Trump had drawn criticism from Democrats and unions, with questions raised about their professional qualifications or the intended areas of responsibility.

In the Senate, however, Sonderling's nomination is likely to provoke comparatively little resistance, as the Republican majority has recently been described as comfortable. Observers expect the nomination process to be formally initiated in the coming weeks. Should the Senate confirm him, Sonderling would be the first regularly Senate-confirmed Labor Secretary in Trump's second term.

Outlook on the Senate process

Trump had already made numerous personnel changes in his first week in office and, among other things, withdrew from the Paris Climate Agreement. In the second term as well, rapid turnover at the top of agencies and ministries shapes the picture. The planned nomination of Sonderling continues this course by converting an interim solution into a permanent appointment.

Along with the news, Trump also announced that the department's economic policy line would be continued. In recent months, the government had, among other things, pushed extensive tax laws such as the "Big Beautiful Bill" through Congress, which also have effects on the labor market. A permanent Labor Secretary could administratively accompany this policy going forward.

Reactions from the business community and unions initially remained cautious. While employer associations welcomed the continuity in the agency's leadership, unions called for greater consideration of concerns relevant to worker protection. The upcoming Senate deliberations will show to what extent the nomination process becomes controversial or is carried by broad support.

Overall, the personnel decision underscores Trump's claim to fill key executive positions early and on a long-term basis. With Sonderling, an experienced civil servant would move to the top of the Department of Labor, whose appointment had been considered likely for months. The official nomination is regarded as the next formal step.