After a short year in the role, Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigned as Secretary of Labor on April 20, 2026 amid a growing inspector general investigation into her travel, spending, and broader workplace conduct. Just weeks later, on Friday, May 1, 2026, OFCCP Director Ashley Romanias announced in an email to staff that she was also leaving the Department of Labor.
Deputy Secretary Keith Sonderling has stepped in as Acting Secretary of Labor. Sonderling previously served as a commissioner at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and held leadership roles within the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division during the first Trump administration. Sonderling’s appointment is widely viewed as an effort to stabilize operations and restore confidence among employers, lawmakers, and career staff after a turbulent stretch. Whether he will become the next confirmed Secretary of Labor remains to be seen.
Sonderling has quickly put a leadership team in place, naming Courtney Walter (also a DOL appointee in the First Trump Administration) to serve as his Chief of Staff. Sonderling also added several former colleagues to his team, including Cynthia McKnight, who worked with Sonderling at the EEOC and served as his Chief of Staff when he was the Deputy Secretary, and Garrett Buttrey and Joseph Burgese, who both worked in the Wage and Hour Division at DOL. In announcing these appointments, Sonderling noted, “Each of these individuals brings a deep understanding of the department’s work and a demonstrated ability to execute at an important level. Collectively, we are well-positioned to build on our progress and continue delivering meaningful results for American workers and businesses across the nation.”
Romanias’ departure from OFCCP comes at a time when the White House has again proposed defunding the agency in its FY 2027 budget proposal, with plans to move Section 503 and VEVRAA enforcement to a new Office of Civil Rights within the Department of Labor. Romanias is the second leader of OFCCP in President Trump’s second term, taking over after Catherine Eschbach moved to the EEOC to serve as the acting general counsel in September 2025. A new OFCCP director has not yet been named, so Deputy Director Diana Sen, a career staffer, will temporarily lead the agency until the Administration announces a new director.