Arriving in office in March 2025, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, the American Minister of Labor, is leaving office to take a position in the private sector, the White House communications director announced on Monday. This is the third departure of a woman from Donald Trump's government in six weeks.

Published on: 04/21/2026 - 03:51 Modified on: 04/21/2026 - 03:51

After a series of scandals which punctuated her 13 months in office, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, American Minister of Labor, is leaving Donald Trump's government "to take a position in the private sector", announced Monday, April 20, on X, the White House communications director, Steven Cheung.

Arriving in office in March 2025, she becomes the third woman to leave Donald Trump's government in six weeks, after the forced departures of the Minister of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, and that of Justice, Pam Bondi.

“She has done a phenomenal job protecting American workers, establishing fair labor practices, and helping Americans learn additional skills to improve their lives,” added Steven Cheung.

He specified that Keith Sonderling, Lori Chavez-DeRemer's current number two, would take over as interim head of the ministry.

In a message published on

Aged 58, this former deputy from Oregon was, at the time of her appointment, reputed to be close to the unions, contrary to the positions of the many bosses who make up the government of the Republican billionaire.

A departure precipitated by a series of scandals

His mandate was marked by the dismissal and forced departure of thousands of officials from his ministry, like many others since Donald Trump's return to the White House in January 2025.

Read alsoThe Trump administration encourages the departure of federal civil servants in exchange for compensation

However, a series of recent scandals hastened his departure from the government.

According to the New York Post, Lori Chavez-DeRemer is notably the subject of an investigation for having had an “inappropriate” relationship with a subordinate. She is also accused of consuming alcohol in her office during work days, but also of fraud for allegedly inventing official trips that turned into leisure trips with family and friends.

In January, the White House considered these accusations “unfounded” through a spokesperson.

Lori Chavez-DeRemer was also targeted by three complaints within the department, brought by employees who accused her of having maintained a toxic work climate, according to the New York Times.

In February, the New York daily also reported – citing sources close to the case and police documents – that the minister's husband, Shawn DeRemer, had been banned from entering the ministry after being accused of sexual assault by at least two employees.

With AFP

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