The U.S. Department of Labor has confirmed Keith E. Sonderling as the 38th Deputy Secretary of Labor. Sonderling returns to the department after previously serving as Acting and Deputy Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division. His most recent role was Commissioner of the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission from 2020 to 2024.
During his initial tenure at the Department of Labor from 2017 to 2020, Sonderling led efforts in enforcement collections and educational outreach events within the Wage and Hour Division. He played a key role in developing deregulatory rules and authored various official documents such as Opinion Letters, Field Assistance Bulletins, and All-Agency Memorandums. Notably, he helped establish a self-audit program that recovered over $7 million for nearly 11,000 workers.
"Keith’s institutional knowledge and policy expertise will continue to be invaluable in our fight to put the American Worker First," stated Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer. "I'm thrilled to have him on the team and look forward to working alongside him to renew the American Dream."
Sonderling expressed his enthusiasm about returning: “Returning to the U.S. Department of Labor, where I began my career in government, is truly an honor,” he said. “In my new role, I am committed to helping Secretary Chavez-DeRemer in advancing President Trump’s labor agenda and most importantly putting American Workers first!”
Before his government service, Sonderling was a partner at Gunster, one of Florida's oldest law firms, where he specialized in labor and employment disputes. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Florida and a Juris Doctor from Nova Southeastern University. Additionally, he has taught employment discrimination as a Professional Lecturer in Law at George Washington University Law School.
