History / Offices

Secretary of Labor

28 people have held this office since Mar 5, 1913. Now: Keith Sonderling.

Holders
28
12 D · 10 R · 6 U
Longest tenure
12 years
Frances Perkins
Current
6 months
Keith Sonderling, since Apr 20, 2026
history/office/secretary-of-laborEvery holder, newest first
+28
19201930194019501960197019801990200020102020William Bauchop Wilson · 1913-03-05 – 1921-03-05 · DemocratFrances Perkins · 1933-03-04 – 1945-06-30 · DemocratMaurice J. Tobin · 1948-08-13 – 1953-01-20 · DemocratMartin Patrick Durkin · 1953-01-21 – 1953-09-10 · DemocratArthur Goldberg · 1961-01-21 – 1962-09-20 · DemocratGeorge Shultz · 1969-01-22 – 1970-07-01 · RepublicanJohn Thomas Dunlop · 1975-03-18 – 1976-01-31 · DemocratWilliam Usery · 1976-02-10 – 1977-01-20 · RepublicanRaymond J. Donovan · 1981-02-04 – 1985-03-15 · RepublicanAnn McLaughlin Korologos · 1987-12-14 – 1989-01-20 · RepublicanElizabeth Dole · 1989-01-25 – 1990-11-23 · RepublicanRobert Reich · 1993-01-20 – 1997-01-20 · DemocratAlexis Herman · 1997-05-01 – 2001-01-20 · DemocratElaine Chao · 2001-01-20 – 2009-01-20 · RepublicanHoward M. Radzely · 2009-01-20 – 2009-02-02Edward C. Hugler · 2009-02-02 – 2009-02-24Hilda Solis · 2009-02-24 – 2013-01-22 · DemocratSeth Harris · 2013-01-22 – 2013-07-23 · DemocratThomas Perez · 2013-07-23 – 2017-01-20 · DemocratEdward C. Hugler · 2017-01-20 – 2017-04-27Alexander Acosta · 2017-04-28 – 2019-07-19 · RepublicanPatrick Pizzella · 2019-07-20 – 2019-09-30 · RepublicanEugene Scalia · 2019-09-30 – 2021-01-20 · RepublicanAl Stewart · 2021-01-20 – 2021-03-23Marty Walsh · 2021-03-23 – 2023-03-11 · DemocratVince Micone · 2025-01-20 – 2025-03-11Lori Chavez-DeRemer · 2025-03-11 – 2026-04-20 · RepublicanKeith Sonderling · 2026-04-20 – present
Keith Sonderling
Apr 20, 2026 – present · 6 months · appointed by Donald Trump
Lori Chavez-DeRemer R
Mar 11, 2025 – Apr 20, 2026 · 13 months · appointed by Donald Trump
Vince Micone
Jan 20, 2025 – Mar 11, 2025 · 2 months · appointed by Donald Trump
Marty Walsh D
Mar 23, 2021 – Mar 11, 2023 · 2 years · appointed by Joe Biden
Al Stewart (acting)
Jan 20, 2021 – Mar 23, 2021 · 2 months
Eugene Scalia R
Sep 30, 2019 – Jan 20, 2021 · 16 months · appointed by Donald Trump
Patrick Pizzella R (acting)
Jul 20, 2019 – Sep 30, 2019 · 2 months
Alexander Acosta R
Apr 28, 2017 – Jul 19, 2019 · 2.2 years · appointed by Donald Trump
Edward C. Hugler (acting)
Jan 20, 2017 – Apr 27, 2017 · 3 months
Thomas Perez D
Jul 23, 2013 – Jan 20, 2017 · 3.5 years · appointed by Barack Obama
Seth Harris D (acting)
Jan 22, 2013 – Jul 23, 2013 · 6 months
Hilda Solis D
Feb 24, 2009 – Jan 22, 2013 · 3.9 years · appointed by Barack Obama
Edward C. Hugler (acting)
Feb 2, 2009 – Feb 24, 2009 · 22 days
Howard M. Radzely (acting)
Jan 20, 2009 – Feb 2, 2009 · 13 days
Elaine Chao R
Jan 20, 2001 – Jan 20, 2009 · 8 years · appointed by George W. Bush
Alexis Herman D
May 1, 1997 – Jan 20, 2001 · 3.7 years · appointed by Bill Clinton
Robert Reich D
Jan 20, 1993 – Jan 20, 1997 · 4 years · appointed by Bill Clinton
Elizabeth Dole R
Jan 25, 1989 – Nov 23, 1990 · 22 months · appointed by George H. W. Bush
Ann McLaughlin Korologos R
Dec 14, 1987 – Jan 20, 1989 · 13 months · appointed by Ronald Reagan
Raymond J. Donovan R
Feb 4, 1981 – Mar 15, 1985 · 4.1 years · appointed by Ronald Reagan
William Usery R
Feb 10, 1976 – Jan 20, 1977 · 11 months · appointed by Gerald Ford
John Thomas Dunlop D
Mar 18, 1975 – Jan 31, 1976 · 10 months · appointed by Gerald Ford
George Shultz R
Jan 22, 1969 – Jul 1, 1970 · 17 months · appointed by Richard Nixon
Arthur Goldberg D
Jan 21, 1961 – Sep 20, 1962 · 20 months · appointed by John F. Kennedy
Martin Patrick Durkin D
Jan 21, 1953 – Sep 10, 1953 · 8 months · appointed by Dwight D. Eisenhower
Maurice J. Tobin D
Aug 13, 1948 – Jan 20, 1953 · 4.4 years · appointed by Harry S. Truman
Frances Perkins D
Mar 4, 1933 – Jun 30, 1945 · 12 years · appointed by Franklin Delano Roosevelt
William Bauchop Wilson D
Mar 5, 1913 – Mar 5, 1921 · 8 years · appointed by Woodrow Wilson

Dates are from Wikidata, which has gaps for some historical offices. Consecutive terms of one person are merged.