On September 30, the Senate voted 47-41 to confirm Keith Sonderling as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).
IEC strongly supported Sonderling’s nomination throughout the confirmation process through a grassroots campaign and meetings with Senate leadership urging them to bring Sonderling’s nomination before the full Senate prior to its October pre-election recess and busy lame-duck Senate session through the end of 2026.
In July, IEC urged the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee to advance his nomination via a coalition letter signed by more than 50 employer organizations.
As acting labor secretary, Sonderling played a key role in delivering on the Trump administration’s workforce development and apprenticeship goals and funding programs.
Sonderling has been applauded by the business community for providing clarity and certainty for employers and workers as the Trump DOL’s rewrites radical Independent Contractor, Overtime, and Joint Employer regulations.
The U.S. DOL’s final independent contractor rule is currently under review at the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) after it was received on September 28, 2026. A final rule is expected to be released this quarter.