Former Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer violated multiple department policies during her tenure, including creating a hostile work environment, using government funds for personal travel, and having an inappropriate relationship with an employee, according to a report from the Labor Department's inspector general. The 44-page report, released on September 4, 2026, is the result of an investigation that began in January following an anonymous complaint alleging misconduct. The report also cites other former top officials who worked with Chavez-DeRemer for multiple policy violations.
More than three dozen witnesses described their experiences working with Chavez-DeRemer, who led the department from March 2025 to April 2026, as "toxic, intimidating and humiliating." However, the inspector general's office did not determine whether the conduct constituted unlawful discrimination, retaliation, or a hostile work environment under federal law.
The report referenced an inappropriate relationship between Chavez-DeRemer and a member of her security detail, stating that they maintained an unprofessional relationship but lacked sufficient evidence to confirm it was romantic or sexual. In April 2025, Chavez-DeRemer reportedly requested an off-the-record stop during personal travel to Oregon at a location featuring "partially nude dancers" and asked another agent to take money from her purse to give to the dancers.
Other policy violations cited in the report include improperly combining personal and official travel, consuming and storing alcohol on federal property, and accepting gifts without reporting them under ethics rules. The gifts included an alligator-hide wallet, work boots, baby gifts, and cowboy hats. Additionally, the inspector general noted that Chavez-DeRemer directed her employees to perform personal tasks, such as organizing her bedroom closet during work hours.
Chavez-DeRemer's attorney, Nick Oberheiden, stated that she did not violate any laws and emphasized the importance of distinguishing this from speculation. He noted that Chavez-DeRemer has pursued new projects as a private citizen since her resignation in April 2026, which he characterized as a personal decision rather than a result of legal wrongdoing. The Labor Department did not respond immediately to a request for comment regarding the inspector general's findings.