Trump’s Labor Secretary Messes Up So Badly — She’s Now Under Investigation: ‘Fraud, Inappropriate Relationship’

Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Trump’s Secretary of Labor, is the subject of an active internal investigation by the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General following a formal complaint alleging an “inappropriate” personal relationship with a subordinate, misuse of taxpayer funds for personal travel, on-the-job alcohol consumption, and abuse of authority to compel staff to perform personal errands.

The allegations, first reported by the New York Post on Friday evening, stem from a detailed whistleblower complaint filed last week with the DOL Inspector General.

The complaint claims Chavez-DeRemer, 57, has hosted the subordinate at her Washington, D.C., apartment at least three times and in hotel rooms during official travel on at least two occasions. It further accuses her of committing “travel fraud” by directing her chief of staff and deputy chief of staff to fabricate official travel justifications to destinations that allowed personal visits with family or friends—at taxpayer expense.

Additional claims include drinking alcohol in her office during work hours and using her position to require department aides to run personal errands, a practice that has previously led to ethics investigations of other Trump administration officials, most notably former EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt.

A Labor Department communications official, Taylor Rogers, categorically denied the allegations in a statement: “Secretary Chavez-DeRemer is an incredible asset to President Trump’s team and she will continue advancing the President’s America First agenda.”

The department has not confirmed the existence of the investigation or provided further comment on the specific charges.

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Controversial Appointment and Policy Record

Chavez-DeRemer, a former one-term Republican congresswoman from Oregon, was confirmed as Labor Secretary in a contentious process. Her nomination drew opposition from some Trump-aligned conservatives due to her previous votes in Congress supporting legislation that expanded labor union rights—positions at odds with the administration’s deregulatory agenda.

Some analysts speculated that Trump selected Chavez-DeRemer at least in part to reward Teamsters union president Sean O’Brien for the union’s neutrality during the 2024 presidential campaign. The Teamsters publicly hailed her confirmation as a victory for organized labor.

Since taking office, however, the Labor Department under Chavez-DeRemer has moved to scale back dozens of workplace health and safety regulations, including rules on exposure to hazardous substances, heat stress, and worker protections—actions that have drawn criticism from labor advocates and praise from business groups.

The allegations against Chavez-DeRemer fit a recurring pattern of ethics and conduct controversies involving Trump administration officials. Previous high-profile cases include:

Former EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, who resigned in 2018 amid investigations into lavish spending, security detail misuse, and personal favors. Also, multiple aides in the first term accused of using government resources for personal benefit or engaging in conflicts of interest.

The current complaint, if substantiated, could lead to formal disciplinary action, referral for criminal investigation, or congressional oversight. The DOL Inspector General operates independently and has the authority to investigate allegations of misconduct by senior officials.

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The report has drawn immediate attention on social media and in political circles. Critics of the administration pointed to the allegations as evidence of continued ethical lapses, while supporters dismissed them as politically motivated leaks.

The timing—coming amid ongoing controversies over the Epstein file releases, immigration enforcement incidents, and internal party tensions—adds to the sense of turbulence surrounding the administration’s personnel and operations.

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Chavez-DeRemer remains in her post, continuing to lead the department’s deregulatory efforts as the investigation proceeds. The outcome of the Inspector General’s review could have significant implications for her tenure and the broader perception of ethics and accountability within the Trump administration.

For now, the allegations remain unproven, but their emergence ensures continued scrutiny of one of the most powerful positions in the federal government.