Keith Sonderling Announced as Pick for Deputy Secretary of Labor

Keith Sonderling, former Commissioner of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, was named by President-elect Donald Trump as his pick for deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor on January 14. Sonderling will be second-in-command under the previously announced Lori Chavez-DeRemer.

Sonderling brings an extensive background in employment law, having previously served as a labor and employment attorney in Florida. He joined the DOL in 2017 under the first Trump administration where he held several roles. He served as the Acting Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division where he authored numerous Opinion Letters and helped develop the Payroll Audit Independent Determination.

In 2020, Sonderling became a member of the EEOC, where he served as vice chair of the commission from September 2020 to January 2021, officially resigning from the commission in August 2024. During his tenure, he focused on ensuring AI and other technologies comply with current civil rights laws and has published many articles on the topic.

In his new role, Sonderling will manage roughly 16,000 DOL employees and the heads of all agencies that fall under the DOL, notably the office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

What This Means for Your Organization

OutSolve understands the importance of strong leadership in advancing labor and employment priorities. Keith Sonderling's nomination reflects dedication to fair, forward-thinking policies designed to support federal contractors and employers in navigating compliance while fostering equitable workplaces.

We anticipate a renewed focus on innovative approaches to workplace compliance and advocacy for inclusive employment practices. OutSolve will monitor these developments and will report on changes as labor policies evolve under the new administration.