President Joe Biden said Tuesday he would nominate Julie Su as secreatry of the U.S. Department of Labor.
Su, who is currently the department’s deputy secretary, stepped into her role in July 2021.
This follows Feb. 7 news that Labor Secretary Marty Walsh would step down to head the NHL Players’ Association. Biden lauded Su in the White House statement, saying, “Julie has spent her life fighting to make sure that everyone has a fair shot, that no community is overlooked, and that no worker is left behind.”
In her current role, Su’s focus has been both wage theft and union relations. The White House press release noted that she helped prevent a U.S. rail shutdown, and has worked to create better work environments for manufacturing, healthcare and tech talent.
The White House also pointed to her experience as California’s labor secretary, where she increased the state’s minimum wage, protected survivors of human trafficking and reinforced workplace safety standards. Su also worked as a civil rights attorney for almost two decades.
If confirmed by the Senate, Su will be Biden’s first Asian American cabinet member.
