
Esther Ritchin is a student at Harvard Law School.
In today’s news and commentary, Trump’s picks face Senate confirmation hearings, including Lori Chavez-DeRemer as Labor Secretary and Scott Bessent as Treasury Secretary.
As many of Trump’s cabinet picks face questioning in Senate confirmation hearings, Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s nomination for Labor Secretary stands out as less objectionable than his other choices. Professors Sharon Block and Benjamin Sachs examine Chavez-DeRemer’s track record and the implications of her nomination. While Trump has yet to make many appointments crucial to the fate of the labor movements, such as members of the NLRB, Chavez-DeRemer’s nomination indicates the possibility of bipartisan collaboration. However, Chavez-DeRemer has not had a consistently pro-labor message. As one reporter described, “[a] spokesperson for the Trump transition, Aly Beley, told me that Chavez-DeRemer no longer supports the PRO Act—a major shift that will disappoint Democrats but might help her secure the GOP support she needs to win confirmation.” And, as Block and Sachs warn, “the Republican vision for American labor policy is based on exclusion; the progressive vision is based on inclusion.”
During his confirmation hearing, Trump’s nominee for Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, expressed opposition to raising the federal minimum wage. Facing questioning from Senator Bernie Sanders, Bessent expressed that he believed minimum wage was a state and regional issue. Bessent also defended tariffs and extending tax cuts.
Daily News & Commentary
Start your day with our roundup of the latest labor developments. See all
April 29
In today’s news and commentary, CFPB mass layoffs paused again, Mine Safety agency rejects union intervention, and postdoctoral researchers petition for union election. A temporary pause on mass firings at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has been restored. After a trial court initially blocked the administration from mass firings, the appeals court modified that […]
April 28
WA strike bill goes to governor; MLBPA discloses legal expenses; Ex-Twitter employees seek class certification against Musk.
April 27
Judge thwarts Trump's attempt to strip federal workers' labor rights; AFGE to cut over half of its staff; Harvard unions rally amid attacks.
April 24
NLRB seeks to compel Amazon to collectively bargain with San Francisco warehouse workers, DoorDash delivery workers and members of Los Deliveristas Unidos rally for pay transparency, and NLRB takes step to drop lawsuit against SpaceX over the firing of employees who criticized Elon Musk.
April 22
DOGE staffers eye NLRB for potential reorganization; attacks on federal workforce impact Trump-supporting areas; Utah governor acknowledges backlash to public-sector union ban
April 21
Bryan Johnson’s ULP saga before the NLRB continues; top law firms opt to appease the EEOC in its anti-DEI demands.