Senate HELP Committee grills Keith Sonderling on independent‑contractor rules, data access, layoffs and AI during confirmation hearing

Keith Sonderling, President Trump’s nominee to be Deputy Secretary of Labor, appeared before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions for a confirmation hearing that focused on rulemaking priorities at the Department of Labor, employment discrimination enforcement, agency staffing and data access.

Sonderling told the committee he would review and seek clarity in rules affecting independent contractors and the joint‑employer standard if confirmed, and said he would rely on legal precedents and the department’s solicitors when litigation is pending. "You have my absolute commitment, not just with this rule, but every rule we do at the Department of Labor will be clear and understandable," Sonderling said during questioning about worker classification.

Senators pressed Sonderling on a range of enforcement and personnel issues. Several members asked for concrete numbers about recent layoffs at DOL; Sonderling, who identified himself as a senior adviser in the department, said he…