Dive Brief:
- President Donald Trump nominated Andrew Acosta to fill the role of Secretary of Labor during a press conference Thursday. Acosta is a former member of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and the current dean of the Florida International University School of Law.
- The news comes less than a day after Trump's previous nominee for the position, Andrew Puzder, withdrew his name from consideration. The fast food CEO, nominated by Trump in December, faced heavy criticism from labor groups and employee advocates.
- At least four Republican senators withheld support for Puzder's nomination, while others called on Trump to rescind the nomination, The Hill reported.
Dive Insight:
As early as mid-January, news outlets reported that insiders said Puzder had been rethinking his nomination for labor secretary. Senate leaders postponed his nomination hearings several times, and Puzder prolonged the filing of mandatory ethical and financial statements required of cabinet nominees.
The DOL ordeal is especially pertinent to HR leaders due to the fact that Acosta will likely hold sway over whether the White House plans to roll back key Obama administration initiatives like the FLSA overtime rule.
After a federal judge halted the rule, attorney Ryan Glasgow told HR Dive, "Mr. Trump and his hand-picked Secretary of Labor will have a lot to say about whether the DOL will continue to pursue the rule." Several employers who made changes to employee compensation late in 2016 to meet the new requirements have long waited for news of the rule's fate.
