How Acosta May Lead If Confirmed As Secretary Of Labor

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President Trump has nominated attorney Alexander Acosta to head the Labor Department. With over two decades of public service, Acosta has a reputation for having a competent management style and a distinct respect for justice which may provide some insight into how he may lead the Labor Department.

Currently, Acosta is the Chairman of U.S. Century Bank and dean of the Florida International University College of Law. But perhaps influencing his character and career direction most may have been his first job after graduating Harvard law school, where Acosta clerked for Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito when he was a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit. Justice Alito has been described as a conservative jurist with a libertarian streak; words also used at times to describe Acosta.

Later Acosta was appointed by President George W. Bush to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and then served as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights.

While at the NLRB it was reported that Acosta usually demonstrated an independent and nonpartisan approach when evaluating cases, often voting alongside fellow Republicans in favor of employers in the major cases while also not shying from occasionally siding with unions. However, during his time in the CRD, Acosta and those working under him were deemed as having a tendency to hire more like-minded conservatives.

Looking at Acosta’s previous work experiences may suggest that he is someone who could competently execute and reinforce the broader theme of Trump’s conservative agenda. At this time, Acosta has had several major unions endorse him, and surprisingly this has not discouraged his support within the business community. As it stands now, Republicans are looking to move him through the confirmation process as swiftly as possible.