A federal watchdog report has accused former US Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer of overseeing a toxic workplace and misusing government resources for personal gain.
A comprehensive report released evere allegations against former US Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer. The 44-page document, which draws upon testimonies from over 50 current and former federal employees, paints a picture of a department plagued ed following a lengthy investigation, highlight a workplace culture described
The investigation suggests that the environment within the secretary’s office was characterized r staff members, including the chief of staff, allegedly engaged in demeaning behavior that targeted employees based on personal attributes. These incidents were reportedly known to Chavez-DeRemer, yet she failed to intervene or implement corrective measures, effectively allowing the hostile climate to persist throughout her tenure.
Beyond the allegations of workplace harassment, the watchdog report uncovered evidence that Chavez-DeRemer frequently directed government subordinates to perform private, non-official tasks. These requests often occurred during working hours, diverting federal personnel from their public duties to attend to the secretary’s personal life. Specific tasks cited in the report included organizing her home closet, arranging personal clothing, and supervising moving crews at her private residence.
Furthermore, investigators documented that employees were tasked with purchasing various personal items for the secretary, ranging from holiday decorations and picture frames to gifts and alcohol. The report also notes that alcohol consumption was a recurring issue within the office. Witnesses stated that Chavez-DeRemer and her senior aides consumed alcohol in the secretary’s study during business hours without the mandatory written authorization required vities reportedly faced ridicule and pressure from their superiors.
The inspector general’s findings also scrutinized the secretary’s relationship with members of her security detail. The report concludes that Chavez-DeRemer fostered an unprofessional and inappropriately close connection with a senior agent assigned to her protection. While investigators did not find sufficient evidence to definitively confirm a sexual relationship, they documented numerous instances of behavior that violated federal ethics standards, including physical intimacy, gambling, and golfing together.
Perhaps most concerning to investigators was an incident during an April 2025 trip to Oregon, where the secretary reportedly requested an unauthorized stop at a club featuring partially nude dancers. The report details how the secretary’s security detail facilitated the request, with the senior agent allegedly instructing a driver to comply with the secretary’s wishes regarding the performers. Additionally, the report highlighted instances of excessive travel spending and a failure to report gifts, such as rodeo tickets and luxury accessories, which is a requirement for federal officials to prevent potential conflicts of interest.
In response to the systemic issues identified during the investigation, the Office of Inspector General has proposed significant structural changes to prevent future misconduct. A primary recommendation is to strip the secretary’s office of its direct oversight of protective units, suggesting instead that these agents be managed for more rigorous independent travel audits and the implementation of stronger protections for whistleblowers who report internal wrongdoing.
Chavez-DeRemer, who resigned from her position in April 2026, has since moved into the private sector, taking a role as a senior adviser at a public affairs firm. While she was one of several high-level officials to depart the administration during that period, the findings of this report serve as a stark reminder of the importance of ethical oversight in high-ranking government roles. The Department of Labor now faces the task of rebuilding its internal culture and ensuring that future leadership adheres to the strict standards expected of federal public servants.