Trump’s Pro-Union Labor Secretary Pick Draws Scrutiny From Senators of Both Parties

Senators from both parties had tough questions Wednesday for Lori Chavez-DeRemer, President Donald Trump’s nominee for Labor secretary, who breaks the traditional GOP mold in her support of unions.

Chavez-DeRemer, a former Republican congresswoman from Oregon who represents Trump’s efforts to woo union members, came under fire from Republicans concerned about her previous policies on right-to-work laws, and from Democrats, who used the hearing as an opportunity to criticize Trump’s attempted downsizing of the federal workforce.

The nominee’s intent to present herself as a pro-union politician was on full display as she walked into the hearing room alongside Teamsters President Sean O’Brien.

“Your nomination has support from both unions and businesses. You’re in a unique position to build a bridge between all workers,” said Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Chairman Rep. Bill Cassidy, R-La.

But in his opening statement, the Louisiana lawmaker made it clear that he had serious questions, taking issue with the nominee’s previous support of the Protecting the Right to Organize Act.

“There are concerns, however, about your past support for the Democrats’ cornerstone legislation, the PRO Act. Workers should have the freedom to decide if they wish to join a union or not. The PRO Act would eliminate this freedom, allowing workers to be coerced and intimidated into unionization,” he said.

Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., who introduced Chavez-DeRemer, was one of her strongest supporters at the hearing.

First, he had to address the elephant in the room—the presence of O’Brien, with whom he had nearly gotten into a physical altercation on the Senate floor in 2023, an intense exchange that Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., broke up.

“The last time Sean and I were in this room together, obviously, we had our differences. And, Bernie, I think you remember that well. But somehow, we were able to put our differences aside, because President Trump asked us to,” said Mullin.

The Oklahoma lawmaker proceeded to urge Republican senators to set aside their reservations, citing his newfound friendship with O’Brien as an example, and also urged populist Democrats, such as Sanders, to throw their support behind Chavez-DeRemer for her pro-union work.

“I’ve had to move a long ways. And if I can move, and Sean and I can move and come together on this, then that, if nothing else, should set some type of example,” Mullin said.

Chavez-DeRemer had the opportunity over the course of the hearing to clarify her positions for skeptical Republicans. 

“Do you still support the PRO Act?” Cassidy asked her point blank.

Chavez-DeRemer responded that she was no longer a representative and had some regrets over supporting the act.

“I will not be that lawmaker anymore. But I was working for Oregon’s 5th Congressional District in representing that … . I respect the right of the right-to-work states, and I have said that the bill was imperfect, and I’m no longer the lawmaker.” Right-to-work laws are intended to bar union from being able to compel all workers at a company to join its ranks if they don’t wish to.

She would face that same question a number times throughout the hearing.

Sanders, asking the exact same question, received what he considered an unclear response, to which he said, “I’m gathering that you no longer support the PRO Act.”

Chavez-DeRemer also went through heated back-and-forths with Democratic Sens. Chris Murphy of Connecticut and Tim Kaine of Virginia over whether or not she supports the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency’s downsizing of federal agencies, to which she generally replied that this was not in her purview and that she was not in the government yet.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., questioned Chavez-DeRemer on her position on abortion.

“You worked in Planned Parenthood years and years ago,” said Tuberville. “[Are] you pro-life or pro-choice?”

Chavez-DeRemer responded, “I am supportive of the president’s agenda. I have a 100% pro-life voting record in Congress, and I will continue to support the America First agenda, which we know includes life.”

“Good answer,” replied Tuberville.

By the end of the hearing, Chavez-DeRemer had managed to avoid overly offending both parties.

The nominee reassured Republicans of her respect for right-to-work laws and reached agreements to work alongside Democrats—such as Sens. John Hickenlooper of Colorado and Lisa Blunt-Rochester of Delaware—on expanding education and apprenticeship opportunities for young people.

Chavez-DeRemer also found two close allies in Republican Sens. Josh Hawley of Missouri and Jim Banks of Indiana, both of whom said they wished to work with her on combat human trafficking.

At the end of the hearing, Cassidy expressed his support for the nominee.

“You did very well,” he said.

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