- Keith Sonderling confirmed as labor secretary.
- AHLA highlights his understanding of hotel franchising.
- H-2B, joint-employer standards are priorities.
THE U.S. SENATE confirmed Keith Sonderling as labor secretary in a 47-41 vote late Wednesday. The American Hotel & Lodging Association welcomed his understanding of the hotel franchising model.
The vote followed party lines, according to CBS News. All Republicans present voted yes and all Democrats voted no. Six Republicans and six Democrats missed the vote. It was the Senate's last vote before a recess for campaigning ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
"Secretary Sonderling has a deep appreciation and understanding of the franchise business model which is the backbone of the hotel industry," said Rosanna Maietta, AHLA president and CEO.
AHLA said the industry's growth depends on policies that support economic opportunity and workforce stability. It noted that 60 percent of hotels are owned by small-business owners.
"We appreciate Secretary Sonderling's emphasis on the importance of clear, practical labor policies that support workers, employers, and economic growth," Maietta said.
Last month, Maietta said Sonderling joined AHLA representatives for a tour of hotels in Arizona and Nevada.
"We look forward to continued collaboration with the secretary and the team at the Department of Labor on key priorities, including modernizing the H-2B visa program and promoting consistent joint-employer standards that provide certainty for our industry and all those who work and thrive in it," Maietta said.
Sonderling, 43, became acting secretary on April 20, after Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigned. He is the 31st person to hold the post. The Senate confirmed him as her deputy in March 2025. President Donald Trump announced his nomination on June 29 and said Sonderling had "proven his dedication to delivering strong results."
Neil Bradley, chief policy officer at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, called Sonderling "a highly qualified nominee" in a letter to senators.
Sonderling was a senior adviser at the Labor Department during Trump's first term. He then served as a Republican commissioner on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission until 2024. He earlier practiced employment and labor law.
Democrats opposed his confirmation. At a July 16 hearing, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, criticized the department's May decision to rescind a Biden-era overtime rule. The department had estimated the rule would extend overtime pay to about 4 million more workers, and a federal judge had already blocked it.
Murray said she feared his confirmation would bring "more of the same."
Separately, the Trump administration earlier had plans to revoke up to 200,000 B1 and B2 business and tourist visas held by foreign nationals who have sought or are seeking asylum in the U.S., according to The Associated Press, citing State Department documents. The plan covers visas issued from 2016 to 2026 and is being coordinated by the State Department and Department of Homeland Security.
If implemented, it would be the largest mass visa revocation in U.S. history.
