Keith Sonderling

Keith E. Sonderling is an American attorney who has served in several high‑level positions within the U.S. federal government. He was confirmed by the Senate as United States Secretary of Labor in 2026 and previously held the post of Deputy Secretary of Labor beginning in 2025. In addition to his labor‑related duties, he has acted as director of the Office of Government Ethics, director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and under secretary of commerce for minority business development.

Early life and career

Keith Sonderling was born on November 25, 1982 in New York City. He is Jewish; his grandparents survived the Holocaust, a fact that has shaped his personal background. After moving to Florida, he attended Spanish River Community High School in Boca Raton. He earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Florida and later completed a Juris Doctor at Nova Southern University's Shepard Broad College of Law in 2008.

Sonderling began his legal career as an associate at Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart in late 2008, where he focused on employment and business litigation. His practice included representing clients such as the Palm Beach Pops Orchestra and its conductor, as well as plaintiffs alleging fraud by condominium‑hotel operators. In 2015 he became a partner at the firm. Throughout his private‑practice years, Sonderling also served on public boards, including the board of directors for Morse Life Health System, the Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce, and Leadership Florida.

In November 2012, Florida Governor Rick Scott appointed Sonderling to the judicial nominating commission for the state’s Fourth District Court of Appeal. He was reappointed in 2016 and named chairman that year. His civic engagement extended to roles on the Jewish Community Relations Council in Palm Beach, Jeb Bush’s Jewish leadership committee during the 2016 presidential campaign, and Carlos Lopez‑Cantera’s finance team for the 2016 Senate race.

Cabinet tenure

Sonderling entered federal service as a senior policy advisor at the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor in September 2017. He became the division’s first political appointee in that role. By early 2019 he had advanced to deputy administrator, serving briefly as acting administrator from February to April 2019. During this period he oversaw initiatives such as sending resources to Guam after Typhoon Wutip and contributed to policy decisions regarding the classification of gig workers as independent contractors rather than employees. He also helped develop a payroll audit program that relaxed litigation and penalties for employers who self‑reported violations.

In July 2019, President Donald Trump nominated Sonderling to serve on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). After Senate confirmation in September 2020, he served as a commission member until August 2024. He held the position of vice chair from his appointment through January 2021, when the role was filled by a new appointee under President Joe Biden. Sonderling announced his departure from the EEOC at the end of 2024.

In November 2024, Trump nominated Sonderling for Deputy Secretary of Labor. The Senate confirmed him in March 2025. As deputy secretary, he managed day‑to‑day operations of the Department of Labor, especially during periods when Secretary Lori Chavez‑DeRemer was frequently absent. His leadership helped maintain continuity within the department.

In April 2026, following Secretary Chavez‑DeRemer’s resignation amid inquiries into her conduct, Sonderling stepped in as acting Secretary of Labor. In June 2026, Trump announced his intent to nominate Sonderling for the permanent position; he subsequently received Senate confirmation and has served as United States Secretary of Labor since that time.

Sonderling also held concurrent acting roles: director of the Office of Government Ethics, director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and under secretary of commerce for minority business development. These assignments expanded his oversight beyond labor issues to include ethics governance, cultural institutions, and minority business initiatives.

By April 2026, Sonderling had become an adjunct professor of employment law at George Washington University Law School, sharing his experience with students while continuing his public service duties.

Legacy

Keith Sonderling’s career reflects a trajectory from private‑practice litigation to influential federal appointments. His early work in employment and business law provided a foundation for later policy roles within the Department of Labor. As senior policy advisor and later acting administrator at the Wage and Hour Division, he contributed to significant labor‑policy decisions, including the treatment of gig workers and the creation of self‑reporting audit programs.

His tenure on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission spanned the transition between administrations, during which he served as vice chair and helped guide the agency’s enforcement priorities. The EEOC experience reinforced his focus on workplace fairness and compliance.

In the Department of Labor, Sonderling has overseen operations at a time of leadership change, ensuring stability for workers and employers alike. His additional responsibilities in ethics governance, cultural services, and minority business development demonstrate an expanded scope that touches multiple facets of federal policy.

Overall, Sonderling’s service illustrates a blend of legal expertise, administrative capability, and commitment to public duty across several key areas of the U.S. government.