United States Secretary of Labor

U.S. cabinet member and head of the U.S. Department of Labor

The United States Secretary of Labor is the head of the Department of Labor who exercises control over the department and enforces and suggests laws involving unions, the workplace, and all other issues involving any form of business-person controversies.

United States Secretary of Labor
Seal of the department
Flag of the secretary
Incumbent
Vince Micone
Acting

since January 20, 2025
United States Department of Labor
StyleMadam Secretary (informal)
The Honorable (formal)
Member ofCabinet
Reports toPresident of the United States
SeatFrances Perkins Building, Washington, D.C.
AppointerThe President of the United States
with Senate advice and consent
Term lengthNo fixed term
Constituting instrument29 U.S.C. § 551
PrecursorSecretary of Commerce and Labor
FormationMarch 4, 1913; 111 years ago (March 4, 1913)
First holderWilliam B. Wilson
SuccessionEleventh[1]
DeputyDeputy Secretary of Labor
SalaryExecutive Schedule, Level I
Websitedol.gov

List of secretaries of labor

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Parties

  Democratic (13)   Republican (16)

Status

  Acting Secretary of Labor

No. Portrait Name State of residence Took office Left office President(s)
1   William Wilson Pennsylvania March 6, 1913 March 4, 1921 Woodrow Wilson
(1913–1921)
2   James J. Davis Pennsylvania March 5, 1921 November 30, 1930 Warren G. Harding
(1921–1923)
Calvin Coolidge
(1923–1929)
Herbert Hoover
(1929–1933)
3   William N. Doak Virginia December 9, 1930 March 4, 1933
4   Frances Perkins New York March 4, 1933 June 30, 1945 Franklin D. Roosevelt
(1933–1945)
Harry S. Truman
(1945–1953)
5   Lewis B. Schwellenbach Washington July 1, 1945 June 10, 1948
6   Maurice J. Tobin Massachusetts August 13, 1948 January 20, 1953
7   Martin Durkin Maryland January 21, 1953 September 10, 1953 Dwight D. Eisenhower
(1953–1961)
8   James P. Mitchell New Jersey October 9, 1953 January 20, 1961
9   Arthur Goldberg Illinois January 21, 1961 September 20, 1962 John F. Kennedy
(1961–1963)
10   W. Willard Wirtz Illinois September 25, 1962 January 20, 1969
Lyndon B. Johnson
(1963–1969)
11   George P. Shultz Illinois January 22, 1969 July 1, 1970 Richard Nixon
(1969–1974)
12   James Hodgson California July 2, 1970 February 1, 1973
13   Peter J. Brennan New York February 2, 1973 March 15, 1975
Gerald Ford
(1974–1977)
14   John Dunlop Massachusetts March 18, 1975 January 31, 1976
15   William Usery Jr. Georgia February 10, 1976 January 20, 1977
16   Ray Marshall Texas January 27, 1977 January 20, 1981 Jimmy Carter
(1977–1981)
17   Raymond J. Donovan New Jersey February 4, 1981 March 15, 1985 Ronald Reagan
(1981–1989)
18   Bill Brock Tennessee April 29, 1985 October 31, 1987
19   Ann Dore McLaughlin District of Columbia December 17, 1987 January 20, 1989
20   Elizabeth Dole Kansas January 25, 1989 November 23, 1990 George H. W. Bush
(1989–1993)
21   Lynn Martin Illinois February 22, 1991 January 20, 1993
22   Robert Reich Massachusetts January 22, 1993 January 20, 1997 Bill Clinton
(1993–2001)
23   Alexis Herman Alabama May 1, 1997 January 20, 2001
24   Elaine Chao Kentucky January 29, 2001 January 20, 2009 George W. Bush
(2001–2009)
  Howard Radzely Pennsylvania January 20, 2009 February 2, 2009 Barack Obama
(2009–2017)
  Ed Hugler Pennsylvania February 2, 2009 February 24, 2009
25   Hilda Solis California February 24, 2009 January 22, 2013
  Seth Harris New York January 22, 2013 July 23, 2013
26   Tom Perez Maryland July 23, 2013 January 20, 2017
  Ed Hugler Pennsylvania January 20, 2017 April 27, 2017 Donald Trump
(2017–2021)
27   Alexander Acosta Florida April 28, 2017 July 19, 2019
  Patrick Pizzella Virginia July 20, 2019 September 30, 2019
28   Eugene Scalia Virginia September 30, 2019 January 20, 2021
  Al Stewart Virginia January 20, 2021 March 23, 2021 Joe Biden
(2021–2025)
29   Marty Walsh Massachusetts March 23, 2021 March 11, 2023
  Julie Su California March 11, 2023 January 20, 2025
  Vince Micone January 20, 2025 present Donald Trump
(2025–present)
Nominee   Lori Chavez-DeRemer Oregon TBD

References

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  1. 3 U.S.C. § 19, Vacancy in offices of both President and Vice President; officers eligible to act