United States Secretary of Labor
The United States Secretary of Labor is the head of the Department of Labor (DOL), a key cabinet-level agency within the executive branch of the U.S. government. Established in 1913, the DOL focuses on workforce-related issues, including occupational safety, workers' rights, wage regulations, and unemployment insurance. The Secretary's role includes managing the DOL, enforcing labor laws, advising the president on labor matters, proposing new regulations, and reporting to Congress on relevant issues. The position was first held by William Bauchop Wilson, and since then, there have been twenty-eight secretaries, including notable figures like Frances Perkins, the first female cabinet member, and Elaine Chao, the first Asian American woman in a presidential cabinet role. The secretary of labor ranks eleventh in the presidential line of succession. The DOL oversees multiple agencies, impacting over 100 million workers in the U.S. and enforcing more than 180 labor-related laws. As of 2023, Julie Su serves as the acting secretary, having been appointed by President Joe Biden.
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United States Secretary of Labor
The United States secretary of labor heads the Department of Labor (DOL). The DOL is responsible for matters relating to the workforce of the United States. It manages occupational safety, workers’ rights, hourly wages, unemployment insurance, and many other issues regarding labor. The secretary of labor is responsible for managing the DOL and ensuring that all of its assigned tasks are being carried out properly. He or she is also responsible for reporting to Congress on issues relevant to the DOL, advising the president on labor issues, proposing new regulations regarding labor, and working with the president to draft any important labor legislation.
Overview
The Department of Labor exists within the executive branch of the US government. It is a cabinet-level department that is run by the secretary of labor. Like other secretaries within the cabinet, the secretary of labor is appointed directly by the president. Once the president chooses someone to appoint as secretary, the Senate must confirm his or her appointment. If enough Senators vote in favor of the president’s choice, then the appointee takes control of the department.
The DOL was created on March 4, 1913, by President William Howard Taft. It was created in response to many years of activism by organized labor rights groups. The DOL was initially part of the Department of Commerce and Labor. President Taft signed the bill establishing the DOL just hours before he left the presidency and President Woodrow Wilson took office.
The secretary of labor has numerous responsibilities, including ensuring that the DOL is carrying out all of its appointed duties, assuring that all current labor laws are being enforced properly, and managing all facets of the DOL. He or she is also responsible for recommending new laws regarding labor, presenting new labor legislation to the president, advising the president on matters regarding labor, and advising Congress on matters relevant to the DOL. The secretary of labor is eleventh in the presidential line of succession, behind the secretary of commerce.
The DOL enforces more than 180 laws, affecting more than 100 million workers in the United States. The department oversees numerous agencies and offices, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the Employment and Training Administration (ETA), the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS), and the Wage and Hour Division (WHD).
Since its inception, the DOL has had twenty-eight secretaries. The first secretary was William B. Wilson, who was appointed by President Woodrow Wilson when he took office in March 1913. The first female cabinet member in US history was Frances Perkins, who was secretary of labor from 1933 to 1945, under the administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Elaine Chao, the secretary of labor from 2001 to 2009, was the first Asian American woman to be appointed to a presidential cabinet position. In 2023, Julie Su became the acting secretary of labor; she was appointed by President Joe Biden after Marty Walsh, who was appointed secretary of labor in 2021, left office.
Bibliography
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Kettles, Cam E. and Kayla H. Le. "Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su Criticizes Donald Trump's Labor Record at IOP." The Harvard Crimson, 22 Oct. 2024, www.thecrimson.com/article/2024/10/22/julie-su-iop-forum/. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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“US Department of Labor.” USA.gov, 2018, www.usa.gov/federal-agencies/u-s-department-of-labor. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.
Valencia, Robert. “What Does the Secretary of Labor Do? 5 Things You Should Know.” Mic.com, 17 Nov. 2016, mic.com/articles/159787/what-does-the-secretary-of-labor-do-5-things-you-should-know#.NqtaVXsxF. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.