The U.S. Senate confirmed Keith Sonderling as Secretary of Labor on September 30, 2026, by a vote of 47–41, with 12 senators not voting. Sonderling had been serving as acting secretary and previously held senior roles at the Labor Department and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
How the Senate voted
The Senate’s official roll-call record for Vote 256 identifies the question as confirmation of Keith Sonderling of Florida to be Secretary of Labor. The nomination was confirmed on September 30, 2026, with 47 senators voting yea and 41 voting nay; 12 did not vote.
Earlier that day, the Senate agreed to cloture on the nomination, 53–47, according to its Vote 255 record. Cloture is a procedural vote to limit debate; it is distinct from the final confirmation vote.
The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee lists the nomination as PN1129-119. It reported the nomination favorably on July 30, 2026, by a 12–11 vote, then recorded the Senate’s confirmation on September 30 by 47–41. The committee’s nomination record provides that timeline.
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Who Keith Sonderling is
Before confirmation, Sonderling was Deputy Secretary of Labor and then served as acting secretary. The Labor Department says the deputy secretary oversees the department’s day-to-day operations, including planning, budget formulation, financial management, information technology, and human resources. Its official biography also says President Trump designated Sonderling Acting Director of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics in June 2026, concurrently with his Labor Department role, and notes other acting federal positions in 2025.
Sonderling’s earlier experience included service as a Republican commissioner at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission from 2020 to 2024 and as Acting and Deputy Administrator of the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division. He first worked at the department from 2017 to 2020. In a March 18, 2025 announcement, DOL said he helped develop a Wage and Hour Division self-audit program that collected more than $7 million for nearly 11,000 workers. That figure is the department’s account of the program.
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The Secretary of Labor advises the President on labor and workforce matters and leads the department’s administration and enforcement of federal laws concerning wages, workplace safety and health, and retirement and health benefits, according to DOL’s biography.
What senators said during the confirmation process
Senators offered sharply different arguments about the appointment. The Associated Press reported that Democrats opposed confirmation, raising concerns about administration policies, including Labor’s management of some Department of Education grant programs. At the hearing, Sen. Patty Murray, a Democrat from Washington, said she feared confirmation would mean “more of the same” on overtime protections, unions, and corporate accountability.
Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Republican from Louisiana and HELP Committee chair, expressed a different expectation. AP quoted him saying he was confident Sonderling would protect workers, help businesses create jobs, and help workers navigate AI-driven changes in the workforce. These comments, reported by the Associated Press, are the senators’ assessments; they do not establish what policies Sonderling will adopt or what outcomes will follow.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the confirmation establishes—and what it does not
The Senate record establishes that Sonderling was confirmed and gives the vote count and date. His prior agency roles and the positions senators voiced during the process provide context, but confirmation alone does not show how he will use the office. Actual policy priorities and effects depend on later agency actions and should be evaluated against those actions rather than inferred from the vote.
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