Senate confirms Labor secretary as nominee blockade delays Trump picks

The Senate confirmed Keith Sonderling as secretary of Labor on Wednesday, but the vote came just before lawmakers left Washington for a lengthy campaign recess that will keep them away until after the November midterm elections.

Sonderling was approved 47-41, with senators voting along party lines. His confirmation was one of the few recent successes for President Donald Trump’s nominees, as Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota continues to block dozens of nominations over a dispute involving federal wetlands policy.

The timing of the recess means the nominees still facing obstacles may wait weeks before the Senate can take further action. When senators return for the lame-duck session, nominations will compete for floor time with other unfinished legislative business, potentially extending the delays.

A confirmation amid a broader standoff

Sonderling had been leading the Labor Department on an acting basis since April. He took over after former Oregon Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer left the post amid misconduct allegations.

Cramer, usually a reliable ally of the Trump administration, has permitted only one other nomination to advance since imposing his restrictions: Chris Klomp’s selection as deputy secretary of Health and Human Services. The Senate Finance Committee approved Klomp’s nomination in late September, but the full Senate has not yet voted on it.

Among the nominees still affected is Kari Lake, the Republican candidate for an Arizona Senate seat in 2024, who has been nominated as ambassador to Jamaica. Sean Kaufman, chosen to become assistant secretary for preparedness and response at HHS, is also awaiting action, along with many others.

Cramer’s action applies to Trump’s executive-branch nominees but not to military promotions. In Senate practice, a hold signals that a senator will object to approving a nomination by unanimous consent. That procedure normally allows the chamber to move quickly without a roll-call vote, so a hold can force a nomination onto a slower process.

The dispute is narrower than the blanket action taken by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, Republican of Alabama, who held up hundreds of military promotions for much of 2023 over the Pentagon’s abortion policy. Cramer’s campaign is focused on nominees rather than military advancement.

Why North Dakota’s wetlands matter

Cramer began his hold in August in response to a wetlands rule issued during Joe Biden’s presidency. He argues that the regulation violates property rights by imposing large setbacks for drain tile near wetland easements, an issue he says threatens landowners in North Dakota.

The rule affects the Prairie Pothole Region, a wetlands belt across the northern Great Plains. Much of North Dakota lies within the region, which also extends into Iowa, Montana, Minnesota and South Dakota. The area provides important habitat for wildlife, including ducks and geese.

The senator has called for the regulation to be discarded and for farmers to receive clearer instructions so they are not exposed to what he views as unwarranted federal pressure. He has said the administration must deliver concrete action rather than assurances before he releases more holds.

Cramer has nonetheless shown some willingness to ease the blockade when he believes the White House is responding. Sonderling’s confirmation and Klomp’s progress through committee are examples of nominations he has allowed to move forward incrementally.

Administration offers limited response

The Department of the Interior announced in September that the Fish and Wildlife Service would use input from North Dakota farmers, ranchers and conservation groups while revising and expanding a Prairie Pothole wetlands pilot project. The effort is intended to address landowners’ concerns, especially those involving wetland easements acquired before 1976.

Cramer has described two meetings with North Dakota farmers and administration officials as meaningful steps. He says the discussions gave the administration a clearer understanding of what he regards as improper federal control in the region.

The White House defended Trump’s nominees in response to questions about the holds. Spokesperson Taylor Rogers said the president had selected capable supporters of his agenda and argued that they would help deliver results for the public.

For now, however, the Senate’s departure leaves the confirmation fight largely paused. Sonderling has secured his post, but the remaining nominees may not receive another opportunity for consideration until lawmakers return for the final session of the congressional term.