Labor Dept. Investigates Texts Among Secretary's Family and Staff

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/15/us/politics/labor-secretary-text-messages.html

Labor Dept. Investigates Texts Among Secretary’s Family and Staff
Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer asked staff members to bring wine to her hotel room, and to keep in touch with her husband and father.
By Rebecca Davis O’Brien
April 15, 2026 Updated 6:42 p.m. ET

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Ms. Chavez-DeRemer and her former deputy chief of staff sent texts asking employees to bring wine to them during trips for the department. Sometimes the requests came in the middle of the workday.

Ms. Chavez-DeRemer’s husband exchanged text messages with young female staff members, as did her father. Some of the young women were instructed by Ms. Chavez-DeRemer and the former deputy chief of staff to “pay attention” to the men, according to people familiar with the investigation.

The messages were gathered as part of a monthslong investigation into Ms. Chavez-DeRemer’s leadership of the department, which began with a complaint filed to the inspector general’s office claiming widespread misconduct. The inquiry has revealed deep frustration in the department with Ms. Chavez-DeRemer, who took office in March 2025. Staff members across the political spectrum have described her as disconnected from the work of the department.

The internal investigation is in its final stages. Four people have been forced out of their jobs, including Ms. Chavez-DeRemer’s former chief of staff and deputy chief of staff, her director of advance and a member of the secretary’s security detail with whom she was accused of having an affair. Three staff members have filed civil rights complaints against her and the department, describing a hostile work environment.

In an April 2025 exchange provided to investigators, Ms. Chavez-DeRemer’s father, Richard Chavez, wrote to a young female staff member: “Hearing u/r in town. Wishing you would let me know. I could have made some excuses to get out and show u around. Please keep this private.”

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