It is cabinet nominees like Kristi Noem and Lori Chavez-DeRemer who really help underscore one of David French’s biggest (and fairest) criticisms of this administration. Namely, this Republican White House has placed people in positions of power who are not virtuous by any stretch.

Secretary of Labor Chavez-DeRemer was reportedly in an inappropriate relationship with one of her staff members (some call him a bodyguard), while her husband, Dr. Shawn DeRemer, was banned from Labor Department headquarters because there were complaints of him making inappropriate advances toward women.

Chavez-DeRemer has more black marks against her than just an affair, though. She was also under investigation for misusing taxpayer funds. She allegedly asked her staff to find reasons for taxpayers to pay for personal travel, and she spent hundreds of thousands on fine dining and limousine services. Last but not least, she is accused of drinking while on the job and taking staff to inappropriate places like strip clubs.

Chavez-DeRemer was under investigation by the Labor Department inspector general. Her misdeeds were obvious enough that Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley also began an inquiry.

Aside from the salacious scandals, Chavez-DeRemer governed like a leftist, enacting policies that would have made Joe Biden’s labor secretary proud. This was all foreseen. As a congresswoman for Oregon, Chavez-DeRemer voted with the Democrats just under half the time. Furthermore, she was backed by Teamsters President Sean O'Brien because union bosses knew how pro-labor she is.

However, the biggest red flag should have been that American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten said, in reference to Chavez-DeRemer, “Now, this would be a significant appointment for Trump to make.” If Weingarten, who held school children hostage and colluded with the CDC during the COVID pandemic, thinks a nominee is a great choice, then a Republican president should drop that nominee like a hot potato.

The embattled labor secretary finally resigned this week, and Deputy Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling will assume her role. In a post announcing her resignation, Chavez-DeRemer wrote:

It has been an honor and a privilege to serve in this historic Administration and work for the greatest President of my lifetime.

At the Department of Labor, I am proud that we made significant progress in advancing President Trump’s mission to bridge the gap between business and labor and always put the American worker first. We created new pathways to mortgage-paying jobs, prepared workers to excel in the age of AI, took steps to lower prescription drug costs, promoted retirement security, and so much more.

Thinking back to my first job packing peaches in rural California, it taught me the value of hard work — a value that I have carried with me every single day in this job and throughout my time in public service. We live in the best country in the world, and I am incredibly grateful that I had this opportunity to meet workers across the nation, listen to their stories, and deliver wins for them and their families.

Thank you, President Trump. While my time serving in the Administration comes to a conclusion, it doesn’t mean I will stop fighting for American workers. I am looking forward to what the future has in store as I depart for the private sector.

Lori Chavez-DeRemer is the third person (the aforementioned DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Attorney General Pam Bondi being the others) to have been fired or resigned in the Trump 47 administration. And all three were necessary, albeit preventable, losses.