By Eric J. Conn and Darius Rohani-Shukla
As Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer braces for a flurry of questions at her confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) on her way to a full Senate vote to become President Trump’s Secretary of Labor, the Trump Administration is assembling its new senior leadership team to oversee workplace safety and labor policy. These key nominees will shape enforcement priorities, compliance strategies, and industry engagement across OSHA, MSHA, and the broader Department of Labor:
- Lori Chavez-DeRemer – Nominee for Secretary of Labor: A former mayor and member of Congress, with unexpected ties to labor, is expected to emphasize regulatory flexibility and employer engagement.
- Keith Sonderling – Nominee for Deputy Secretary of Labor: A former EEOC Commissioner and Dept of Labor official with expertise in AI, employment law, and compliance initiatives.
- David Keeling – Nominee for Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA: A veteran of UPS and Amazon with decades of experience managing workplace safety in complex work environments.
- Amanda Wood Laihow – Nominee for Deputy Assistant Secretary for OSHA: A former Commissioner at the OSH Review Commission and legal and policy expert with the National Association of Manufacturers.
- Wayne Palmer – Nominee for MSHA Administrator: A regulatory veteran with previous leadership experience at MSHA and in the mining industry.
With these appointments, the second Trump Administration is signaling a shift in labor and workplace safety policy, though how far and how fast the pendulum will swing remains to be seen. Will workplace safety regulations lean toward deregulation, targeted enforcement, or greater collaboration with industry stakeholders? These questions will be central in upcoming confirmation hearings. Below is a deeper look at each nominee and the potential impact of their leadership on the operations of OSHA, MSHA, and the Department of Labor’s many other divisions. Continue reading