New head at the Department of Labor

The Department of Labor has a brand-new chief in Eugene Scalia, who was sworn in during a ceremony at the White House.

Scalia succeeds Alexander Acosta, who resigned from his post this summer following fallout from his role as a former prosecutor overseeing a case against Jeffrey Epstein.

“I am deeply honored to have the opportunity to serve in President Trump’s administration and to lead this great department where I worked nearly 20 years ago as solicitor of labor,” Scalia says. “The department has important responsibilities to further its mission and implement the president’s agenda to protect and strengthen the American workforce. I am excited to get to work.”

Scalia previously served as solicitor of labor, the Department of Labor’s principal legal officer. He worked for former secretary of labor Elaine Chao as a member of President George W. Bush’s administration.

According to the Department of Labor, Scalia pursued initiatives as solicitor to protect low-wage workers, reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens, and enhance enforcement of workplace safety laws.

Prior to his confirmation as labor secretary, Scalia was a lawyer with a reputation as an expert in labor and employment law and in administrative and regulatory law.