Vice President Mike Pence (right) speaking during the swearing-in ceremony for R. Alexander Acosta, the new Secretary of Labor.
Washington – R. Alexander Acosta is the new Secretary of Labor, after the Senate confirmed him April 27 in a bipartisan vote of 60-38.
Vice President Mike Pence administered the oath of office to Acosta on April 28.
Trump nominated Acosta on Feb. 16, one day after initial nominee Andrew Puzder withdrew his name from consideration.
Acosta previously served in the Department of Justice during the George W. Bush administration and was a member of the National Labor Relations Board. Prior to his swearing-in as DOL chief, he was dean of the law school at Florida International University, a position he had held since 2009.
Eight Democrats and one independent voted in favor of Acosta, the son of Cuban immigrants who also has served as a federal prosecutor.
"Once Mr. Acosta officially assumes his new position, I hope his focus will be to unleash the power of the American workforce by promoting labor policies that are free of unnecessarily burdensome federal regulations," Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) said in an April 27 press release.
Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), chair of the House Education and Workforce Committee, also championed the move.
Acosta highlighted worker safety as an important focus of his position while speaking at his confirmation hearing March 22 before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), chairman of the HELP Committee, lauded Acosta's background.
Not all were in favor of Acosta, however. Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the HELP Committee, reiterated her apprehension over his candidacy.