Alexander Acosta

Alexander Acosta served as the 27th United States Secretary of Labor, holding office from 2017 until his resignation in July 2019. Prior to that role he held a series of federal appointments, including positions on the National Labor Relations Board, within the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, and as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. After leaving public service, Acosta entered private practice and later joined the board of directors of Newsmax in 2025.

Early life and career

Born on January 16, 1969, in Miami, Acosta was the only son of Cuban immigrants who had settled in the United States. He grew up in the city and attended the Gulliver Schools, where he would later serve on the Board of Trustees and hold a term as board chairman.

Acosta pursued higher education at Harvard University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics in 1990. He became the first member of his family to graduate from an American university. Continuing his studies at Harvard Law School, he was active in the Harvard Latino Law Review and graduated with a Juris Doctor cum laude in 1994.

Following law school, Acosta clerked for Samuel Alito, who was then a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, from 1994 to 1995. He entered private practice as an associate at Kirkland & Ellis in Washington, D.C., where he focused on labor and employment matters. While based in the capital, Acosta also taught courses on employment law, disability‑based discrimination law, and civil rights law at George Mason University School of Law.

Cabinet tenure

Acosta’s federal career began with appointments during the administration of President George W. Bush. He served as Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Rights Division from December 2001 to December 2002, then joined the National Labor Relations Board for a period that included authoring more than 125 opinions. In August 2003 he was appointed Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, becoming the first Hispanic individual to hold that position. In this role he increased federal prosecutions related to human trafficking and intervened in cases involving religious liberty and historical investigations.

In 2005 Acosta became U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. His office prosecuted a wide array of high‑profile criminal matters, including the lobbying scandal surrounding Jack Abramoff, terrorism suspect José Padilla, members of the Cali Cartel, and the son of former Liberian leader Charles McArther Emmanuel. The district also pursued white‑collar crime, securing significant settlements such as a $780 million fine from UBS for tax‑avoidance practices that led to the disclosure of secret Swiss bank accounts. Health care fraud prosecutions were another focus; under Acosta’s leadership more than 700 individuals were prosecuted, resulting in over $2 billion in Medicare fraud penalties.

During his tenure as U.S. Attorney, Acosta oversaw a federal investigation into alleged sex‑trafficking activities involving financier Jeffrey Epstein. The investigation culminated in a non‑prosecution agreement that resulted in Epstein pleading guilty to prostitution‑related charges under Florida state law and receiving a 13‑month prison sentence. The agreement granted immunity from federal prosecution for Epstein and potential co‑conspirators, a decision that later attracted renewed scrutiny when Epstein was arrested on federal sex‑trafficking charges in New York. Acosta defended the agreement as a strategic choice aimed at securing a conviction amid concerns about trial risk; however, it faced criticism for its perceived leniency.

In 2017 President Donald Trump nominated Acosta to serve as Secretary of Labor. The Senate confirmed his appointment, and he assumed office as the department’s chief executive. His tenure was marked by the continuation of existing labor policies and initiatives, but it was also defined by the controversy surrounding the Epstein case. Facing bipartisan criticism over the handling of that investigation, Acosta announced his resignation in July 2019 and stepped down from the cabinet position.

After leaving public office, Acosta transitioned to the private sector. In March 2025 he joined the board of directors of Newsmax, where he chairs the audit committee.

Legacy

Alexander Acosta’s career reflects a broad engagement with federal law enforcement and civil rights issues. As U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, his office achieved significant prosecutions across multiple domains—political corruption, organized crime, terrorism, white‑collar fraud, and health care fraud—contributing to substantial financial recoveries and the enforcement of federal statutes.

His leadership in the Civil Rights Division expanded federal prosecution efforts against human trafficking and addressed civil liberties concerns, including interventions related to religious dress rights and historical investigations. Acosta’s tenure on the National Labor Relations Board involved a large body of opinions that shaped labor relations jurisprudence.

As Secretary of Labor, although his time in office was brief, he oversaw the department during a period of continuity for existing policies. The controversy over the Epstein investigation ultimately defined his cabinet service and led to his resignation, illustrating the complex interplay between legal strategy and public accountability in federal appointments.

Following his departure from government, Acosta continued to influence public affairs through private practice and corporate governance roles, most notably his position on the board of Newsmax. His career trajectory—from law clerk to senior federal prosecutor, civil rights advocate, and cabinet secretary—demonstrates a sustained commitment to legal service across multiple facets of the United States justice system.