Dive Brief:
- Andrew Puzder, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to head the Labor Department, is said to be rethinking the nomination, reports CNN Politics. Puzder is currently CEO of CKE Restaurant Holdings, the parent corporation of Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s fast food chains.
- Insiders told CNN that Puzder might drop his name from the nomination because of constant criticism from Democrats, labor leaders and workers' rights groups, who have assailed him for perceived “anti-labor” stances and practices during his time as CEO.
- The Trump transition team denies the contents of CNN's report. One representative told CNN that after the story had been reported, Puzder tweeted that he was looking forward to his hearing. Politico reports that his hearing has officially been scheduled for Feb. 2.
Dive Insight:
Puzder apparently has yet to file his ethics and financial statements, a requirement of all nominees for top government posts. The documents show how nominees plan to follow federal ethics mandates involving their financial holdings. The Office of Government Ethics publicly posts the documents once they’re filed. The hold-up is unusual, and it has given Puzder's opponents more fodder with which to criticize him.
Puzder’s confirmation — if he stays in the running — will likely roll back many of the “pro-labor” mandates the Obama administration issued. The labor chief is meant to protect workers' rights and uphold existing laws. Puzder’s opponents say his treatment of and attitude towards workers make him unfit to head the DOL, while others praise his business background.
