Lori Chavez-DeRemer oversaw toxic workplace, watchdog report finds

A report from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of the Inspector General has found that former Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer oversaw a “toxic, intimidating and humiliating” workplace.

The 44-page report states that nearly 40 interviewees described an environment involving harassment and policy violations. Specifically, the watchdog found that Chavez-DeRemer, along with Chief of Staff Jihun Han and Deputy Chief of Staff Rebecca Wright, regularly consumed alcohol in her study during official duty hours. Witnesses reported that the trio pressured employees to participate or ridiculed those who declined.

Additional findings indicate that Chavez-DeRemer violated agency policies in six areas, including maintaining an inappropriate relationship with her security detail, mixing personal and professional travel, possessing alcohol on federal property, and directing government employees to perform personal tasks. Chavez-DeRemer, a former Oregon congresswoman, resigned from her position in April.