Government affairs

In a 52-44 party-line vote today, the Senate confirmed Eugene Scalia as the new head of the Department Labor today, succeeding President Trump’s former Secretary of Labor, Alexander Acosta, who resigned in July in response to his role over a plea deal he brokered for the multimillionaire sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Scalia, son of the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, is currently a partner at the Washington law firm Gibson Dunn, where he has represented companies such as the United Parcel Service (UPS), Ford, Walmart and others in workers rights claims. His nomination was opposed by Senate Democrats who have labeled him as “anti-worker.”

“This guy shouldn't even make it for Secretary of Commerce, let alone Secretary of Labor, which is supposed to protect and defend the working people of America,” said Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).

“He will be a Secretary of Corporate Interests, not a Secretary of Labor,” said Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA).

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka referred to Scalia as a “lifelong union-buster” and when speaking on his nomination said, “it’s insulting, it’s dangerous, and workers are not going to forget it.”

Scalia will take over for Acting Secretary of Labor Patrick Pizzella in the coming days.