Teamsters Break 32-Year Endorsement Streak as Trump’s Labor Secretary Faces Resignation Amid Scandals

Teamsters End 32-Year Endorsement Tradition

In September 2024, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters made headlines by declining to endorse a presidential candidate for the first time since 1992. The decision came just weeks after Teamsters President Sean O’Brien delivered a prime-time speech at the Republican National Convention.

Trump’s Anti-Labor Record Fuels Controversy

The Teamsters’ refusal to endorse reflects growing discontent with Donald Trump’s long-standing opposition to labor rights. During his first term, Trump rolled back pro-union policies, and his second term has seen continued hostility toward organized labor. Despite this, O’Brien’s alignment with Trump’s agenda raised eyebrows among union members and political observers alike.

Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s Troubled Tenure as Labor Secretary

Following Trump’s reelection, O’Brien’s preferred candidate, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, a former Republican Representative from Oregon, was nominated as Labor Secretary. Her tenure, however, was marred by scandals and ineffectiveness, culminating in her resignation on Monday. She joins a list of departing Cabinet officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Attorney General Pam Bondi, who were deemed too corrupt—or in Bondi’s case, not corrupt enough—to serve under Trump.

Initial Labor Support and Political Backlash

Chavez-DeRemer’s nomination initially received mild support from labor unions. AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler noted her co-sponsorship of the PRO Act, which aims to expand labor rights for private-sector unions, and the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act, which would do the same for public-sector unions. However, her pro-union stance drew criticism from conservative lawmakers and business groups.

"She’s one of them. She’s pro-union."

Policy Reversals and Weak Enforcement

During her confirmation hearing, Chavez-DeRemer distanced herself from the PRO Act, calling it "imperfect" and rejecting a key provision that would overturn state right-to-work laws. She also avoided committing to raising the federal minimum wage from its current rate of $7.25 per hour, aligning with Trump’s opposition to wage increases. Trump’s inconsistent 2016 campaign positions on the minimum wage were widely documented, and his administration has since blocked efforts to raise it, including canceling a Biden-era executive order requiring federal contractors to pay $15 per hour.

As Labor Secretary, Chavez-DeRemer’s enforcement record was notably weak. Under her leadership, the number of concluded compliance actions against wage and hour violations dropped from an average of 21,000 under Biden to 17,000. Similarly, actions against low-wage, high-violation industries fell from 842 under Biden to 649.

Cabinet Resignations Mount Under Trump

Chavez-DeRemer’s resignation adds to a growing list of Cabinet departures, including Noem and Bondi, both of whom faced corruption allegations. The pattern underscores the challenges of serving in an administration widely criticized as the most corrupt in U.S. history.