Former Labor secretary allegedly fueled toxic workplace, drank on job, misused funds, watchdog report finds

Live updates

1. 10d ago

   Report finds former Labor Secretary Chavez-DeRemer misused funds and drank on job

   A 44-page report from the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General finds that former Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer violated multiple department policies. The watchdog report concludes she fostered a hostile and toxic work environment, misused government travel funds, and drank while on the job. Additionally, the Inspector General found that Chavez-DeRemer maintained an inappropriately close relationship with a member of her security detail. These findings detail a pattern of dysfunction and misconduct during her tenure as a Trump Cabinet official.

   Why it matters

   The Inspector General serves as an independent oversight body to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse within federal agencies. This probe examines the internal operations of the Labor Department under previous leadership. The results highlight potential breaches of ethics and federal resource management.

   What is confirmed

   • Former Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer misused government funds and resources.
   • A watchdog report found that Chavez-DeRemer drank while on the job.
   • The Inspector General found that Chavez-DeRemer oversaw a toxic and hostile work environment.
   • The Office of Inspector General released a 44-page report on Thursday regarding these violations.
   • The Inspector General found Chavez-DeRemer had an inappropriately close relationship with her bodyguard.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Chavez-DeRemer visited strip clubs and forced a staffer to attend one during a personal trip.

   What to watch next

   • Potential disciplinary or legal actions resulting from the misuse of government travel funds.
   Sources used for this update (13)

   1. The Washington Post — Former labor secretary misused funds and drank on the job, report finds
   2. cnn.com — Former labor secretary drank at the office and misused resources, probe finds
   3. Politico — Former Labor secretary allegedly fueled toxic workplace, drank on job, misused funds, watchdog report finds
   4. Fox News — Former Trump Cabinet official had 'inappropriately close' relationship with bodyguard, IG finds
   5. The New York Times — Former Labor Secretary Stoked Dysfunction and Toxicity, Department Report Finds
   6. AP News — Live updates: Former Labor Secretary oversaw hostile work environment, misused funds, internal report finds
   7. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — Watchdog report: Ex-Labor secretary oversaw hostile work environment, misused funds
   8. Al Jazeera — Watchdog report alleges misconduct by Trump’s former labour secretary
   9. NPR — 4 things investigators learned about the dysfunction at Trump's Labor Department
   10. Statesman Journal — Report alleges Chavez-DeRemer visited strip clubs, drank on the job
   11. upolitics.com — Ex-Trump Labor Secretary Chavez-DeRemer Oversaw Hostile Workplace, Misused Funds & Drank On The Job, Watchdog Finds
   12. www.aol.com — Trump’s ex-labor secretary drank on job and created ‘toxic’ work environment, report alleges
   confidence 95%