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Labor secretary's top aides sidelined amid inspector general complaint
Labor secretary's top aides sidelined amid inspector general complaint
Lori Chavez-DeRemer's chief of staff and deputy chief of staff are accused of scheduling official events to facilitate her personal travel plans.
Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer speaks alongside House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol on the 35th day of a government shutdown, Nov. 4, 2025. (Francis Chung/POLITICO via AP Images)
Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer. | AP
By Nick Niedzwiadek
01/12/2026 02:24 PM EST
Two of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s top aides were placed on administrative leave Monday amid an investigation into their conduct by the agency’s in-house watchdog, according to two department officials.
A complaint filed with DOL’s inspector general accuses Chief of Staff Jihun Han and his deputy, Rebecca Wright, of devising official events for Chavez-DeRemer in order to facilitate her personal travel, the New York Post reported late Friday. Both Han and Wright worked for Chavez-DeRemer while she served in the House.
Chavez-DeRemer has traveled to at least 36 states for dozens of events since taking office last March, and she endeavored to visit all 50 states in her first year — though the Labor secretary has said those plans were sidetracked by the record-breaking government shutdown.
Han did not respond to a request for comment. Wright could not immediately be reached for comment. DOL declined to comment on personnel matters. ... It is unclear who will help run Chavez-DeRemer’s office in their absence, or whether they are still being paid, while the probe is underway. The aides’ temporary removal is not indicative of any wrongdoing.
{snip}
Lori Chavez-DeRemer's chief of staff and deputy chief of staff are accused of scheduling official events to facilitate her personal travel plans.
Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer speaks alongside House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol on the 35th day of a government shutdown, Nov. 4, 2025. (Francis Chung/POLITICO via AP Images)
Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer. | AP
By Nick Niedzwiadek
01/12/2026 02:24 PM EST
Two of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s top aides were placed on administrative leave Monday amid an investigation into their conduct by the agency’s in-house watchdog, according to two department officials.
A complaint filed with DOL’s inspector general accuses Chief of Staff Jihun Han and his deputy, Rebecca Wright, of devising official events for Chavez-DeRemer in order to facilitate her personal travel, the New York Post reported late Friday. Both Han and Wright worked for Chavez-DeRemer while she served in the House.
Chavez-DeRemer has traveled to at least 36 states for dozens of events since taking office last March, and she endeavored to visit all 50 states in her first year — though the Labor secretary has said those plans were sidetracked by the record-breaking government shutdown.
Han did not respond to a request for comment. Wright could not immediately be reached for comment. DOL declined to comment on personnel matters. ... It is unclear who will help run Chavez-DeRemer’s office in their absence, or whether they are still being paid, while the probe is underway. The aides’ temporary removal is not indicative of any wrongdoing.
{snip}