Keith E. Sonderling was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on March 12, 2025, to be the 38th United States Deputy Secretary of Labor, and on April 20, 2026, was designated by President Donald J. Trump as the Acting Secretary of Labor.
As the United States Acting Secretary of Labor, Sonderling is the highest-ranking official advising the President and enforcing federal laws to protect workers' wages, safety, health, and benefits.
As Deputy Secretary, he serves as the Department's Chief Operating Officer, overseeing the agency's budget and workforce employees. The Deputy Secretary oversees key operational functions such as: strategic planning; budget formulation; financial management; information technology; and human resource management.
Also, during President Trump's second term, Sonderling concurrently served as Acting Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development.
Prior to becoming Deputy Secretary, he was previously confirmed by the United States Senate to serve as the Commissioner of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) from September 2020 until August 2024. He also served as the Commission's Vice-Chair from 2020-2021.
Sonderling previously served at the US Department of Labor as the Acting and Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division from 2017-2020.
Before his government service, Sonderling was a partner at one of Florida's oldest and largest law firms, Gunster. At Gunster, he counseled employers and litigated labor and employment disputes. Sonderling also served as a Professional Lecturer in the Law (Adjunct Professor) at George Washington University Law School, teaching employment law.
Sonderling received his B.S., magna cum laude, from the University of Florida and his J.D., magna cum laude, from Nova Southeastern University.