WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s nominee for the Labor Department emphasized its significant role in the administration’s plan to dismantle the Education Department. Acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling addressed Senate Democrats’ concerns, explaining the interagency agreements (IAAs) between Education and Labor as consulting on financial transfers, not program management.
The IAAs involve the departments of Health and Human Services, State, Treasury, Interior, and Justice as part of Trump’s strategy to dissolve the 46-year-old Education Department. Sonderling, appearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, highlighted his diverse DOL experience.
“Few people have had the opportunity to experience the department from so many different perspectives, from the outside in private practice, as a policy adviser, as an agency head, as an adjunct professor, as deputy secretary, as acting secretary, and now as the nominee for Labor secretary,” he said. “These experiences have prepared me to lead this department with a deep understanding of its mission, its people, and most importantly, the Americans we serve.”
Sonderling assumed the acting secretary role in April after Lori Chavez-DeRemer‘s misconduct-related resignation. By June, he was appointed acting director of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, with Senate confirmation as deputy Labor secretary in March 2025. The committee’s vote on his nomination is scheduled for July 23.
‘It makes zero sense’
Senate Democrats questioned Labor’s involvement in Education Department program transitions. Sen. Patty Murray criticized the move, stating, “it makes zero sense that DOL, an agency whose expertise is in supporting wage earners and job seekers, is being tasked now with taking over complex education programs from the Department of Education to help kindergartners and elementary school students.”
Through IAAs, Labor is expanding its role in elementary, secondary, postsecondary, and career education. Education maintains statutory oversight of these programs. A House package of 10 bills seeks to permanently transfer several functions to other departments, echoing the IAAs.
Programs still run by ‘career experts’
Sonderling supported the administration’s plan, emphasizing DOL’s role in grant management and collaboration with Education. He reassured that the agreements focus on service rather than policy. Sen. Tammy Baldwin argued the program scattering complicates the system for states and schools, but Sonderling maintained that programs remain at Education and are managed by career experts. He noted the relocation of some employees to enhance efficiency, offering evidence of improvements to Sen. Baldwin.
“There’s a right way to do reform — come to the committee and say, ‘Hey, look, this is in statute but there’s a better way to do it, so let’s work on a better way to do it,’” said Sen. Tim Kaine. “The wrong way to do it is to treat the (Education Department) like it’s a furniture store and having a discount going out of business sale and hand off pieces willy-nilly to agencies that don’t have the expertise to deal with them,” the Virginia Democrat expressed concern over the current approach.
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