Acosta Confirmed As Labor Secretary

---

On April 27th, the Senate confirmed the nomination of R. Alexander Acosta as the new labor secretary, making him the first Hispanic member of Trump’s cabinet. In his confirmation hearings, Acosta spoke of reinforcing the broader theme of Trump’s conservative agenda. Acosta was confirmed by a vote of 60-to-38, with strong Republican support along with eight Democrats and one independent in his favor.

Acosta’s previous experience may suggest how he will lead the Labor Department going forward. His first job after graduating Harvard law school, Acosta was a law clerk for Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito when he was a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit. Justice Alito is considered a conservative with a libertarian streak.

Acosta later served as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights and then as a member of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). In his role as labor secretary, Acosta will help nominate others to lead the department’s sub-agencies responsible for enforcement and policy.