The RecordExhibit 146
A watchdog finds the labor secretary ran a 'toxic' office, broke travel, alcohol and gift rules and had staff run her errands
Official finding means: A government watchdog or a UN inquiry found a violation.
In a report made public on Sept. 4, 2026, the Labor Department's inspector general found that Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who left the Cabinet in April, oversaw a 'toxic, intimidating and humiliating' workplace, violated the department's travel and alcohol rules, failed to report gifts and had staff do personal tasks on work time.
What happened
The inspector general's office interviewed 53 current and former department employees and one from another agency and reviewed more than 500 documents, images and videos. The AP reported that the report found senior staff threatened, demeaned and berated employees, sometimes in front of colleagues, and made staffing decisions based on appearance, including moving one employee's desk because of her weight, and that Chavez-DeRemer appeared to know and did not stop it.
It found she combined personal and official travel, including trips to Las Vegas and to family, that she and senior staff kept and drank alcohol on federal property without permission, that staff organized her home closet, collected packages and made personal purchases on work time that were not always reimbursed, and that she did not report gifts including rodeo tickets, an alligator-hide wallet and cowboy hats.
It also described an inappropriate relationship with a senior member of her security detail, supported by hotel key records and witness accounts, which continued after he was put on leave, and a personal trip in Oregon during which she stopped at a strip club and had her driver and a security agent give money to a dancer. Reports of the investigation surfaced in January 2026, and four department officials were forced out, including her deputy chief of staff and the security official.
The White House announced on April 20, 2026, that she was leaving to take a private-sector job, and the AP and Time reported that she was stepping down amid the investigation. Deputy Secretary Keith Sonderling became acting secretary.
Where it stands
The inspector general's report is a formal finding that department rules were violated. The AP's account does not mention a referral to prosecutors, and we found no report of charges or of any court case. Chavez-DeRemer has not held office since April.
The administration's side
When she left, White House communications director Steven Cheung said she was leaving for the private sector and had done a 'phenomenal job' protecting American workers, and Chavez-DeRemer said serving had been an honor and that she was proud of the department's work. Time reported that the White House and the department had earlier denied wrongdoing. She did not respond to the AP's request for comment on the report, and the AP's story carried no response from the department or the White House.
Sources
Permanent link: https://unredactedrecord.com/e/laborig/