Acting labor secretary Julie Su's nomination was returned to the White House as the Senate concluded its first session of the 118th Congress. Senate Republicans and centrist Democrat Joe Manchin opposed Su's confirmation, citing concerns about her ability to enforce labor laws impartially and manage the department without partisan activism. President Biden will have to re-nominate Su in January or choose a different official to head the Department of Labor. Su's service as acting secretary has been the longest for a Cabinet-level official when the same party controls both the Senate and White House. Critics also highlighted her oversight of fraudulent payments and delayed COVID relief payments while serving as California's labor secretary.
Senate Republicans are criticizing the Biden administration for adding Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su, whose nomination was never confirmed, to the presidential line of succession. They expressed concerns and requested clarification on the administration's belief that Su is eligible for the presidency. The senators argue that Su lacks support from both Republican and Democratic members of the Senate and that her inclusion in the line of succession violates congressional intent and the law. They urge President Biden to clarify his position and withdraw Su's nomination for labor secretary. Su's nomination faced backlash earlier this year and she has remained as acting secretary since then.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has determined that Julie Su can continue serving as the acting head of the US Department of Labor indefinitely, clarifying that her status is legal and in line with the original law establishing the department. The GAO's decision comes after months of accusations from Republicans that her temporary leadership is unconstitutional. This ruling gives the Biden administration the green light to keep Su as the leader of the DOL until the end of Biden's first term, despite lacking Senate confirmation. It also dismisses threats from Republicans and business groups that Su's actions as acting secretary could face legal challenges.
The acting Labor secretary, Julie Su, who has not been confirmed by the Senate, is ordering companies nationwide to raise pay through regulatory decree, despite wages not keeping up with inflation since President Biden took office. This move is seen as an attempt to address Americans' concerns about the economy, but it raises questions about the limits of misgovernance even in blue states like New York.
Vice President Kamala Harris defended Julie Su, the nominee for Labor Secretary in the Biden administration, by intentionally omitting the word "acting" from her title during a visit to a Philadelphia union hall. Su's nomination has been pending for 147 days, and the White House decided to keep her as an acting appointee indefinitely due to the unlikely confirmation by a closely divided Senate. Republican opposition and the lack of support from key Democratic senators make it challenging for Su to secure the necessary votes. Congressional Republicans have criticized Biden for bypassing the confirmation process and have called for the withdrawal of Su's nomination.
The Senate is at a standstill regarding the confirmation of President Biden's pick for secretary of labor, Julie Su. While she has the support of many Democrats and union leaders, it remains uncertain when or if a vote will be held. However, Su could continue running the department as the acting labor secretary without being confirmed, as federal law does not impose time limits on acting positions within the Labor Department. This presents a dilemma for Biden, as keeping Su without confirmation could face pushback, while withdrawing her risks upsetting unions and Asian American communities. Some Democrats support Su staying in the role, while others believe a formal confirmation is necessary. The White House has not commented on the matter.
The confirmation of President Joe Biden's pick for labor secretary, Julie Su, is facing opposition from moderate Democrats and independent senators, leaving the position that oversees jobs and employment in limbo. Su's nomination has not come to the Senate floor for a vote, and several moderate Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents are balking at voting for her. Republican Lisa Murkowski of Alaska is viewed as a potential swing voter. Su would be the first Asian American to hold a Cabinet secretary position in the Biden administration if she is confirmed.
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee voted 11-10 along party lines to advance Deputy Secretary of Labor Julie Su's nomination to lead the Labor Department, with Democrats in support and Republicans opposed. Su's nomination now heads to the floor of the U.S. Senate, where a handful of Biden's other high-profile nominees have been stuck in limbo amid intense opposition from Republicans, moderate Democrats and independents. Su has faced Republican criticism for a massive unemployment insurance scandal that took place while she was serving as secretary of labor for California.
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee advanced Labor Secretary nominee Julie Su on a party-line vote. However, Su still needs to win over undecided Democratic holdouts in the full Senate, including Sens. Joe Manchin, Mark Kelly, Jon Tester, Kyrsten Sinema, and Angus King. Business groups are running ads against Su's nomination, while labor unions are campaigning in her favor. The International Franchise Association is warning that Su might aggressively crack down on the franchise model as Labor secretary.
Unions are rallying behind President Joe Biden's pick to lead the Labor Department, Julie Su, as Democrats seek to avoid a defeat that would set back the administration's agenda for workers. Unified Republican opposition to the nominee has the unions and the White House focused on a handful of moderate senators who have yet to make their intentions known. The AFL-CIO has launched a campaign to drum up support for Su, with an emphasis on getting local affiliates to lean on undecided senators and a six-figure ad buy running in Washington, D.C. and Arizona.
Republican lawmakers at a confirmation hearing accused President Biden's nominee for labor secretary, Julie Su, of being too sympathetic to unions and unable to be a neutral arbiter between unions and employers. Su defended her ability to be impartial and cited her history of resolving labor disputes. However, her Senate approval is far from assured, with concerns raised by Sen. Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.) and the absence of Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.). Major business interests have also aligned to defeat her appointment.
Julie Su, President Biden's nominee for Secretary of Labor, would be the first AAPI Cabinet secretary if confirmed. She previously served in several top spots in California state government, including as labor secretary under Gov. Gavin Newsom. Su co-founded Sweatshop Watch, an organization that worked to improve working conditions for garment workers in the United States. However, Su is facing scrutiny from Senate Republicans on her leadership of California's Labor Department and will have to answer for moves made by DOL during Walsh's tenure.
The Senate confirmation hearing of Julie Su, President Biden's nominee for labor secretary, reflects a larger fight over workplace regulation, with business groups opposing Biden's push to strengthen unions and increase workers' rights and benefits. Ms. Su's nomination has faced criticism from some Democrats and independents, with at least two wavering over whether to support her. If confirmed, Ms. Su is likely to lead the Biden administration's effort to expand overtime pay for salaried workers and to strengthen labor regulations. Labor unions and other supporters are making a more determined push for her confirmation, while business groups have erected billboards and run ads critical of her in the home states of potentially decisive senators.
President Biden's nominee for labor secretary, Julie Su, faces opposition from Republicans and some Democrats as she prepares to testify at her Senate confirmation hearing. While progressives support Su, moderate Democrats have expressed skepticism about her nomination, and opponents accuse her of being a partisan activist and mishandling California's unemployment program. With Democrats holding a narrow majority in the Senate, Su's confirmation vote will require little room for error.
President Biden's nominee for labor secretary, Julie Su, faces uncertainty in her Senate confirmation due to some moderate Democrats not publicly stating their support for her. Su, a civil rights attorney and current deputy labor secretary, has faced opposition from business groups critical of her record leading California's labor department. Democratic senators Joe Manchin, Jon Tester, Mark Kelly, and Kyrsten Sinema have not confirmed their votes for her confirmation. Su would be the first Asian American in the Biden administration to serve in the Cabinet at the secretary level.
