WASHINGTON – Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling issued the following statement regarding the May 2026 Employment Situation Report:

“President Trump and this Administration once again produced the best month of job creation since taking office, demolishing economists’ expectations. This Administration is proving the cynics wrong and American workers, families, and businesses are winning.

The May Jobs Report overperformed on every level, adding 172,000 jobs and marking the third consecutive month of positive payroll growth. Thanks to President Trump, manufacturing jobs are up 25,000 in 2026 and construction jobs have increased by 71,000 since he took office – a true testament to this Administration’s priorities.

Under the President’s leadership, American workers are seeing benefits in real time: rising wages, increased affordability, and over 903,000 private sector jobs added. The Department of Labor remains committed to advancing a bold, pro-worker agenda and will continue delivering for the American people.” 

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor and its Office of Inspector General today announced they have jointly issued formal letters demanding that financial institutions immediately preserve funds held in prepaid debit card accounts linked to fraudulent unemployment insurance claims issued across many states during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 In a letter, Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling and Inspector General Anthony P. D'Esposito called on the financial institutions to freeze all identified accounts through December 31, 2026, while federal investigators work to recover potentially fraudulent funds tied to pandemic-era UI schemes. The action, in coordination with President Donald J. Trump’s White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, led by Vice President J.D. Vance, seeks to prevent stolen taxpayer dollars from disappearing through state unclaimed property processes known as escheatment.

 “During the pandemic, criminals and bad actors exploited weaknesses to steal billions of dollars from the American people,” said Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling. “Under President Trump’s leadership, we have made it clear that those days are over. We are working with Vice President Vance to ensure we use every tool at our disposal to track down stolen funds, hold fraudsters accountable, and return money to the taxpayers to ensure this program is used as intended.”

 “Our office has already issued alert memoranda sounding the alarm, and the time for excuses is over. Every dollar lost through delay or inaction is taxpayer money handed directly to fraudsters. We will pursue every avenue to recover these funds, and we will not allow bureaucrats or criminals to run out the clock,” said Inspector General Anthony P. D'Esposito. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, unemployment insurance programs experienced an unprecedented surge in fraudulent claims. Bad actors exploited program vulnerabilities to collect benefits they were never entitled to, in many cases through prepaid debit card accounts administered by financial institutions on behalf of state workforce agencies. Some of those funds remain dormant in accounts that, under normal circumstances, would soon be transferred to state unclaimed property agencies – a process that would make them significantly harder or impossible to recover.

To prevent that outcome, the department and its OIG are requesting that the financial institutions:

• Freeze and preserve all accounts identified in a confidential attachment through Dec. 31, 2026.
• Cooperate proactively with federal investigators to keep funds identifiable and recoverable.
• Coordinate directly with the department and its OIG on compliance and preservation efforts.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor and its Office of Inspector General has announced a partnership in furtherance of President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order, “Establishing the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud.” 

Under the leadership of Vice President JD Vance, the department and the OIG will work together to safeguard American taxpayers and address widespread fraud and performance concerns related to the unemployment insurance programs administered across the country. 

“Unemployment-insurance systems nationwide face significant financial and performance failures. For too long, these problems have gone unchallenged. That ends now,” said Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling. “The Department of Labor is working alongside OIG agents to investigate potential fraud and misuse. Our mission is clear: Restore accountability and safeguard workers and taxpayers.”

This multi-agency partnership within the department demonstrates an unparalleled level of collaboration with the OIG with department program offices and its independent watchdog working shoulder-to-shoulder to stop fraud before taxpayer dollars are put at risk. 

“We’re taking a proactive approach by working directly with the strike teams deployed by the department’s Employment and Training Administration – providing data and analytical capabilities and support, placing investigators at the front lines where the threat begins. Together with the acting secretary, we are committed to a zero-tolerance mission: ensuring not one fraudulent dollar leaves the building,” said U.S. Department of Labor Inspector General Anthony P. D’Esposito.

“This partnership gives us a direct line to Vice President Vance’s ‘Task Force to Eliminate Fraud,’ supercharging our investigations and prosecutions to deliver faster, stronger justice and put fraudsters behind bars,” D’Esposito added.

Acting Secretary Sonderling and Inspector General D’Esposito both serve on the “Task Force to Eliminate Fraud,” which is committed to fighting fraud, closing loopholes, enforcing eligibility rules, and protecting benefits for eligible Americans, while ensuring states administering unemployment insurance benefits do the same. 

“Acting Secretary Sonderling and Inspector General D’Esposito are invaluable partners. Today’s announcement is a critical step toward stopping the theft from American taxpayers,” said Task Force Executive Director Scott Brady. 

The resources and executive commitment dedicated by President Trump and Vice President Vance significantly enhance the resources provided to the DOL Office of Unemployment Insurance within ETA and the investigative capacity of OIG, ensuring those who exploit federal benefit programs are held accountable under the law.

Some of the most problematic state unemployment-insurance programs include California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. These six states combined are responsible for paying out nearly $19 billion annually in unemployment-insurance benefits. 

In fiscal year 2025 alone, these six states issued more than $2.6 billion in improper unemployment-insurance benefits, including over $1.2 billion in fraudulent payments. Additionally, in fiscal year 2025, California, Massachusetts, and New York topped the list of states with the most fraud exposure.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an enforcement action against Cloudera Inc. following the allegations that it violated the Immigration and Nationality Act by unlawfully discriminating against hiring American workers in favor of foreign labor.

“Protecting the integrity of our immigration and labor systems requires employers to follow the law and provide American workers a fair opportunity to compete for jobs,” said Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling. “Today’s action reflects this Administration’s commitment to holding bad actors accountable when they attempt to circumvent those protections.”

As part of the enforcement action, the department’s Employment and Training Administration’s Office of Foreign Labor Certification has suspended processing of all permanent labor certification applications filed by, or on behalf of, Cloudera for 180 days. The PERM program allows employers to sponsor workers for permanent resident status, only after completing recruitment of U.S. workers. There is potential for an extension of the enforcement action pending the results of a Department of Justice investigation.

This action follows evidence obtained by the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division alleging Cloudera engineered a non-functional recruitment process that prevented qualified American workers from applying for high-paying technology positions while certifying to ETA that no qualified U.S. workers were available. On April 28, the DOJ filed a lawsuit against Cloudera with its Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer, which has jurisdiction over cases arising under the INA.

While the department already initiated the suspension of all PERM applications filed by, or on behalf of, Cloudera, it will continue to proactively enforce its existing suspension authority against any employer, attorney, or agent who is under investigation by Justice or other government entity for possible fraud or willful misrepresentation in relation to the permanent labor certification program.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling issued the following statement regarding the April 2026 Employment Situation Report:

“Despite doom-and-gloom rhetoric from pundits and economists, America’s economic comeback is clearly accelerating under President Trump, with job growth now shattering expectations two months in a row. 115,000 jobs were added in April, doubling expectations and proving 94% of Bloomberg economists wrong. The unemployment rate remained steady and total private sector job growth under this Administration now stands at more than 700,000 new jobs.

“Thanks to President Trump’s Working Families Tax Cuts, job creators were clearly feeling empowered this tax season and are investing in American workers. Our skilled workforce is seeing the benefits, with continued job growth in construction and a strong 5.2% year-over-year increase in manufacturing weekly earnings.

“The President is bringing workers off the sidelines – growing the private sector while continuing to right-size the federal government, saving taxpayers billions of dollars per year. The Department of Labor remains fully committed to advancing commonsense workforce development policies to prepare American workers for the good-paying, in-demand jobs being created by President Trump’s America First policies.”

WASHINGTON – Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling today announced key senior leadership roles within the Office of the Secretary to support the department’s ongoing work advancing President Trump’s agenda and delivering results for American workers, employers, and retirees. 

“I’m proud to have a strong, experienced team in place to continue driving the department’s mission forward,” said Acting Secretary Sonderling. “Each of these individuals brings a deep understanding of the department’s work and a demonstrated ability to execute at a high level. Collectively, we are well-positioned to build on our progress and continue delivering meaningful results for American workers and businesses across the nation.”

The following individuals will serve in senior roles within the Office of the Secretary under Acting Secretary Keith Sonderling:

Courtney Walter, Chief of Staff – Walter previously served as senior counselor to the Secretary and served in various capacities at the department during the first Trump Administration, including as Senior Counsel in the Office of the Solicitor. Walter previously worked in the private sector, focusing on labor and employment matters. Walter has a bachelor’s degree from Penn State and a law degree from the Florida International University College of Law, where she graduated as valedictorian. Following law school, she spent two years clerking for the Honorable Ursula Ungaro in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Garrett Buttrey, Deputy Chief of Staff – Buttrey previously served as chief of staff and senior policy advisor for the department’s Wage and Hour Division where he provided counsel to Wage and Hour Administrator Andrew Rogers on policy development, regulatory guidance, enforcement, and other matters before the agency. Before joining the Trump Administration in 2025, Buttrey served as senior policy counsel and chief counsel for the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions where he provided strategic counsel to the chairman as he developed the committee’s labor policy agenda, conducted oversight, and managed nominations. Buttrey began his career in the private sector as a litigator representing clients in labor and employment matters, including wage and hour issues, employment discrimination litigation, collective bargaining, and grievance arbitration. He was also an adjunct professor at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee and a law degree from George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School.

Cynthia McKnight, Deputy Chief of Staff – McKnight previously served as chief of staff and senior counselor to the Deputy Secretary of Labor. She has extensive labor and employment experience, having worked at multiple federal agencies, including the Department of Justice, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, National Labor Relations Board, Federal Labor Relations Authority, and Office of Congressional Workplace Rights. Before entering public service, McKnight worked in the private sector focusing on corporate and securities matters. She began her career clerking for Judge David B. Sentelle of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Miami University and a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center.

Joseph Burgese, Senior Advisor -- Burgese previously served in the department as policy advisor for the Wage and Hour Division and chief of staff in the Office of Public Liaison, where he served as the primary contact to outside stakeholders. Prior to being appointed in the Trump Administration, he worked in the private sector where he focused on business development and financial strategy. He has also worked on gubernatorial, congressional, and senate campaigns throughout Pennsylvania, where he advised on strategy implementation, and is an alum of Turning Point USA. Burgese has a bachelor’s degree from Florida Atlantic University and earned his MBA from Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business, where he graduated summa cum laude.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer issued the following statement regarding the March 2026 Employment Situation Report:

“One year since Liberation Day, America’s economic comeback is on full display: Job growth smashed expectations, with a remarkable 178,000 jobs added in March. President Trump’s economic policies are working as planned, and Americans are feeling the benefits as we reindustrialize our nation after years of decline under the previous administration.

“Through the Working Families Tax Cuts, historic private investments, and fair trade policies, President Trump is putting more money in Americans’ pockets and empowering job creators. This is evident through strong growth in construction jobs, particularly factory construction, and manufacturing having its first positive quarter in several years – proving that we are bringing production back to the United States.

“Thanks to President Trump’s America First agenda, more than 600,000 private-sector jobs have been created since he took office, and wage growth remains strong. American workers are winning again, and the Golden Age of America is upon us.”

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Science Foundation to advance workforce development efforts related to artificial intelligence. 

The MOU solidifies the department’s formal partnership with the NSF on the TechAccess: AI-Ready America initiative, a newly launched national effort led by NSF to expand access to AI knowledge, tools, and training for American workers and businesses. In addition to the memorandum of understanding, the NSF recently announced it will make available up to $224M in funding for the establishment of up to 56 State/Territory Coordination Hubs to drive AI readiness across the country. 

The TechAccess program and the funding availability represent a collaborative effort between the NSF, the departments of Labor and Agriculture, and the Small Business Administration. 

“The TechAccess initiative will ensure every American worker has the skills, knowledge, and training needed to succeed in an AI-driven economy,” said Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer. “Under President Trump's bold leadership, the Department of Labor is proud to partner with NSF to advance AI readiness, empower American businesses to innovate with AI, and create opportunities that will benefit all Americans.”

“This partnership demonstrates the Trump Administration’s unified and innovative approach to supporting American workers in the age of AI,” said Deputy Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling. “Through the TechAccess Initiative, the Department of Labor will maximize the impact of regional AI readiness efforts by ensuring they are fully integrated into the workforce and education systems.”

“This partnership reflects a shared commitment across the federal government to ensure American workers and businesses are prepared for the opportunities of artificial intelligence,” said Brian Stone, performing the duties of the NSF director. “Through the TechAccess initiative, NSF is proud to work alongside the Department of Labor and our partners to expand access to AI knowledge, strengthen workforce pathways, and support coordinated, nationwide efforts that will help communities across the country succeed in an AI-driven economy.”

The department has committed to advancing the TechAccess program’s impact by connecting its Coordination Hubs to the public workforce and education system, including through networks like American Job Centers, training pathways like Registered Apprenticeships, and initiatives like its AI Literacy Framework and AI Workforce Hub.

The TechAccess initiative and collaboration between the agencies advance the Trump Administration’s commitment to equip American workers with the skills, pathways, and resources to succeed in the age of AI, as outlined in America’s Talent Strategy and the White House’s AI Action Plan.

Under the MOU, the department and the National Science Foundation will:

• Collaborate on initiatives that equip American workers with the knowledge and skills to succeed in an AI-driven economy.
• Support strategies that prepare workers for transitions and advancement opportunities created by AI adoption.
• Conduct research on how AI is transforming labor markets, job requirements, and economic outcomes.

Read the Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Labor and the National Science Foundation. 

Read the TechAccess program funding solicitation. 

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the launch of “Make America AI-Ready,” a free artificial intelligence literacy course that will help American workers learn the basics of AI simply by texting “READY” to 20202.

The initiative advances the Trump Administration’s commitment to equip American workers with foundational AI skills needed to succeed in an AI-driven economy, as outlined in America’s Talent Strategy and the White House’s AI Action Plan.

The course is uniquely designed to deliver bite-sized learning content and daily challenges to users entirely over text message. Users can complete the course in seven days by engaging for just 10 minutes a day. The text message-based design is intended to be as accessible as possible to all Americans, including those without a laptop or with limited access to the internet. 

The initiative was developed through a public-private partnership between the Labor Department and education technology company Arist, a participant in the White House’s Pledge to America’s Youth to help advance AI education across the country.

“The ‘Make America AI-Ready’ initiative is designed to ensure every American worker has the chance to learn foundational skills so they can benefit from the opportunities that the AI economy presents,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer. “Under President Trump’s leadership, the Department of Labor remains committed to putting American workers first by providing them with the skills they need to support themselves and their families.”

“This initiative will help demystify AI for American workers,” said Deputy Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling. “We are seeing AI create new jobs, new levels of productivity, and new forms of entrepreneurship, and we want to make sure all Americans have the skills to share in that prosperity.”

The course engages participants with daily content that directly aligns with the five foundational areas outlined in the Labor Department’s recently-released AI Literacy Framework.

These content areas are: 

• Understand AI Principles: Understanding AI’s core concepts, capabilities, and limitations, creating the foundation for effective use.
• Explore AI Uses: Directly exploring different AI tools and relevant use cases, and how AI can complement human expertise.
• Direct AI Effectively: Understanding how to provide the right context to AI and how to create clear prompts that produce effective outputs.
• Evaluate AI Outposts: Assessing AI-generated results for accuracy, and relevance.
• Use AI Responsibly: Using AI in ethical and secure ways, protecting critical information, and ensuring accountability for outcomes.

The Labor Department designed the course to be the starting point for American workers in their AI journey, and the course concludes by offering participants additional resources to learn more advanced AI skills or pursue AI-related careers, based on their unique goals or interests. 

Phone numbers used to enroll in Make America AI-Ready are used solely for delivering the course and will never be shared with or sold to third parties for marketing or promotional purposes.

Learn more about the Make America AI-Ready initiative at dol.gov/ai-ready.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the launch of a website for its Center for Faith, following President Trump’s executive order creating a White House Faith Office and federal agency Centers for Faith. 

The department’s Center for Faith webpage contains resources for Americans who may have faced religious discrimination in the workplace, as well as information for faith organizations on potential grant opportunities and retirement plans.

“Americans should not face discrimination in the workplace because of their religion. Our new Center for Faith website offers helpful guidance for American workers and faith organizations interested in competing for grants at the Department of Labor,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer. “Thanks to President Trump, Americans’ right to religious freedom is more protected than ever before.”

These new resources follow a recent decision from the department to add language in funding opportunity announcements that encourages faith organizations to apply for discretionary grants open to the public.

This webpage offers materials related to efforts combatting all forms of religious discrimination, including Christian bias and anti-Semitism; additional faith-related policy; contact information; and three original resources:

• An interactive map of the United States, which details religious discrimination protections in each state and includes a listing of the state office overseeing religious discrimination.
• A guide for faith organizations to more easily navigate the federal grant process.
• A guide for faith organizations to navigate retirement benefits for their employees. 

View the department’s Center for Faith webpage.