US | Biden Nominates Julie Su To Serve As Secretary of Labor

On February 28, President Biden announced his nomination of Deputy Labor Secretary Julie Su to lead the department after the expected departure of Labor Secretary Marty Walsh later this month. Before serving as Deputy Labor Secretary, Su was the secretary of the California Labor and Workforce Department, where she focused, among other things, on improving worker pay and curbing employer harassment. She also spent almost two decades as an attorney at the nonprofit Asian Pacific American Legal Center, where she became known for her advocacy on behalf of immigrant sweatshop workers. 

Her nomination comes with the support of many prominent Democrats and several immigrant and labor advocacy groups. Advocates are hopeful that Su will work to protect the rights of immigrant workers as she has throughout her career. Opposition to her confirmation is expected from Republicans, who have been critical of her actions to protect gig workers, and from employer and business interest groups.

If confirmed, she would be the first Asian-American to serve as a cabinet secretary in the Biden administration. 

Erickson Insights

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