On April 20, 2026, Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigned from the Trump administration. She didn’t leave to “spend more time with her family” or “pursue new opportunities.” She left because the Department of Labor’s own Inspector General had been investigating her since January for an extramarital affair with a member of her security detail, for drinking on the job, and for having her staff schedule fake official events to cover her personal travel on the taxpayer’s dime. She is the third Trump cabinet secretary to exit this term.
Her attorney, Nick Oberheiden, released a statement calling the allegations “biased” and saying she stepped down “in the best interest of the American people.” In the best interest of the American people. A cabinet secretary credibly accused of screwing her bodyguard on government time, getting drunk at work, and running a travel fraud scheme wants you to know her resignation is really about you.
The Investigation
The probe was opened in January 2026 by DOL Inspector General Anthony D’Esposito — himself a former Republican congressman who lost his reelection bid in 2024. The allegations came from a complaint filed with the IG’s office and reported by the New York Post on January 9:
The affair: Chavez-DeRemer allegedly had an extramarital relationship with Brian Sloan, a member of her security detail at DOL. Sloan resigned in March rather than cooperate with the investigation. He called it a “politically motivated investigation” — the universal defense of people who did the thing they’re accused of.
Drinking on the job: Multiple allegations that Chavez-DeRemer drank while performing her duties as Labor Secretary. This is the person responsible for policing workplace safety standards, employee benefits, and labor law compliance across the entire United States. Drinking. On the job.
Travel fraud: Top aides allegedly scheduled official events specifically to justify taxpayer-funded trips that were really for Chavez-DeRemer’s personal plans — seeing family, meeting friends, personal errands dressed up as government business.
Four officials left DOL during the investigation. Chief of staff Jihun Han and deputy chief of staff Rebecca Wright quit under pressure from the White House — both were holdovers from Chavez-DeRemer’s single term in Congress. Brian Sloan (the security guard) resigned rather than talk to investigators. Advance team head Melissa Robey was fired shortly after sitting for an interview with the IG. Let that sink in: they fired someone for cooperating with the investigation.
The Husband
It gets worse. Chavez-DeRemer’s husband, Shawn DeRemer, was banned from DOL headquarters in late January after at least two women alleged he touched them inappropriately at the building. The DC Metropolitan Police investigated one incident, and the U.S. Attorney’s office reviewed security camera footage but declined to press charges. A DHS unit that polices federal property also looked into it and dropped the case.
Shawn DeRemer’s attorney accused DOL employees of “fabricating allegations to embarrass and undermine the Labor secretary and her family.” Two separate women, in a federal building with security cameras, independently fabricated the same type of allegation. Sure.
Drain the Swamp
Let’s count Trump’s cabinet casualties this term:
1. Kristi Noem — fired as Homeland Security Secretary. 2. Pam Bondi — fired as Attorney General (replaced by Acting AG Todd Blanche, who is now using the DOJ to go after political enemies). 3. Lori Chavez-DeRemer — resigned under investigation for the greatest hits of government corruption: sex, booze, and travel fraud.
That’s three cabinet members gone in less than 16 months. According to the Brookings Institution’s turnover tracker, Trump’s “A Team” turnover rate was 32% as of April 15, 2026. One in three top officials, gone. And this is his second time doing this. His first term was historically chaotic for turnover. He’s doing it again, except now the exits involve IG investigations and criminal referrals instead of just angry tweets.
Chavez-DeRemer was appointed with the backing of the Teamsters union — part of Trump’s pitch to working-class voters that he’d fight for them. She was supposed to be the administration’s bridge to organized labor. Instead she spent her time in office allegedly sleeping with her security guard and getting drunk at work while her husband reportedly groped women in the building lobby.
“Secretary Chavez-DeRemer has decided to step down in the best interest of the American people.” — Nick Oberheiden, personal attorney for Chavez-DeRemer, April 20, 2026
The best interest of the American people would have been not appointing a single-term congresswoman with zero labor policy experience to run the Department of Labor in the first place. The best interest of the American people would be a president who vets his cabinet picks instead of treating every appointment as a loyalty reward.
But this is Trump. The swamp doesn’t drain. It refills. Every time. With worse people than the last batch.
Sources
- Politico: “Chavez-DeRemer stepping down as Labor secretary.” Third cabinet member to leave. IG investigation since January: affair, drinking, travel fraud. Attorney statement. Four officials departed during probe. April 20, 2026.
- Politico: “Cop vs. Cabinet secretary: The saga gripping the Labor Department.” Deep dive on IG investigation. D’Esposito background. Allegations of misuse of government resources. Staff departures. Teamsters backing. April 19, 2026.
- HR Brew: “Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer reportedly accused of having an inappropriate relationship with staffer.” Original complaint details. “Travel fraud” allegations. New York Post documents. January 15, 2026.
- Brookings Institution: Trump administration “A Team” turnover rate: 32% as of April 15, 2026. Tracking all high-ranking departures. Updated continuously.
- Time: “Who Has Trump Fired?” Noem (DHS) and Bondi (AG) removed. Gabbard (DNI) replacement floated. Growing list of departures. April 2, 2026.