Alexander Acosta
R. Alexander Acosta is a former secretary of labor. He was the 27th person to serve in the position. The secretary of labor is responsible for overseeing the department's mission, which is "To foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights."[1]
On July 12, 2019, Acosta announced that he would resign effective July 19, 2019.[2][3]
On February 16, 2017, President Donald Trump announced that Acosta was his nominee for secretary of labor. The announcement came the day after Andrew Puzder, Trump's first pick for the position, withdrew from consideration. On April 27, 2017, Acosta was confirmed by the Senate by a vote of 60-38. He was sworn in on April 28, 2017.[4][5][6]
Biography
Acosta received his undergraduate degree from Harvard University and his law degree from Harvard Law School. He clerked for Justice Samuel Alito when Alito sat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Acosta practiced law at Kirkland & Ellis. As a Republican member of the National Labor Relations Board, Acosta was involved in more than 125 opinions. In 2009, he became dean of the Florida International University School of Law.[7][8]
Acosta also chaired the board of U.S. Century Bank and previously worked as an investment banker at Lehman Brothers.[9]
Secretary of labor
On February 16, 2017, President Donald Trump announced that Acosta was his nominee for secretary of labor. The announcement came the day after Andrew Puzder, Trump's first pick for the position, withdrew from consideration. On April 27, 2017, Acosta was confirmed by the Senate by a vote of 60-38. He was sworn in on April 28, 2017.[4][5][6]
Senate confirmation vote
On April 27, 2017, the Senate voted 60-38 to confirm Acosta as secretary of labor.[5]
| Alexander Acosta confirmation vote, April 27, 2017 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Votes for  |
Votes against  |
Total votes |
 Democrats |
8 | 37 | 45 |
 Republicans |
51 | 0 | 51 |
 Independents |
1 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Votes | 60 | 38 | 98 |
Issues
| Nomination tracker | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate: R. Alexander Acosta | ||
| Position: Secretary of Labor | ||
| Confirmation progress | ||
| Announced: | February 16, 2017 |
| Hearing: | March 22, 2017 |
| Committee: | Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee |
| Reported: | March 30, 2017 (12-11) |
| Confirmed: | April 27, 2017 |
| Vote: | 60-38 |
Infrastructure
- On April 4, 2018, Acosta discussed President Donald Trump's infrastructure plan in a op-ed. He wrote, "The president’s plan to strengthen our nation’s infrastructure — including modernizing roads, bridges, tunnels and airports — represents an outstanding opportunity for Americans to build their career while building a stronger foundation for our nation." He said that the plan included investments in physical infrastructure, workforce education, and "provisions to reduce licensing barriers that prevent Americans from using their skills across state lines."[10]
Noteworthy events
Democrats call on Acosta to resign after plea deal with alleged sex offender
Three Congressional Democratic leaders called on Alexander Acosta to resign as labor secretary after new charges came forward against alleged sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Acosta made a plea deal with Epstein in 2008 when Acosta was U.S. attorney, thereby allowing Epstein to avoid a federal trial and serve jail time instead.
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D) said Acosta should resign: "I am calling on Secretary Acosta to resign. It is now impossible for anyone to have confidence in Secretary Acosta’s ability to lead the Department of Labor. If he refuses to resign, President Trump should fire him. Instead of persecuting [sic] a predator and serial sex trafficker of children, Acosta chose to let him off easy."[11] Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Dick Durbin also released statements calling for Acosta's resignation.
Acosta said of Epstein's case: "With the evidence available more than a decade ago, federal prosecutors insisted that Epstein go to jail, register as a sex offender and put the world on notice that he was a sexual predator. Now that new evidence and additional testimony is available, the NY prosecution offers an important opportunity to more fully bring him to justice."[12]
President Trump wrote about Acosta: "He’s [Acosta] been a great, really great secretary of Labor. The rest of it we’ll have to look at — we‘ll have to look at it very carefully. But you’re talking about a long time ago."[11] Acosta announced his resignation effective July 19, 2019, on July 12, 2019.[2]
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Acosta and his wife have two daughters.[13]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ DOL.gov, "Our Mission," accessed September 18, 2017
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Politico, "Alexander Acosta stepping down as Labor secretary," July 12, 2019
- ↑ Twitter, "Yamiche Alcindor," July 12, 2019
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 NBC News, "Trump to Announce Alexander Acosta as New Labor Secretary Pick," February 16, 2017
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Senate.gov, "On the Nomination (Confirmation R. Alexander Acosta, of Florida, to be Secretary of Labor )," April 27, 2017
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 DOL.gov, "R. Alexander Acosta Sworn In As The 27Th Secretary Of The Us Department Of Labor," April 28, 2017
- ↑ Florida International University, "R. Alexander Acosta," accessed February 16, 2017
- ↑ National Labor Relations Board, "Board Members Since 1935," accessed February 17, 2017
- ↑ Bloomberg, "R. Alexander Acosta," accessed February 16, 2017
- ↑ Columbus Dispatch, "Alexander Acosta: Trump infrastructure plan provides skilled jobs," April 4, 2018
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Politico, "Acosta defends Epstein plea deal as Dems call for his resignation," July 9, 2019
- ↑ Twitter, "Secretary Acosta on Twitter," July 9, 2019
- ↑ DOL.gov, "Secretary of Labor R. Alexander Acosta," accessed September 20, 2017
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Tom Perez |
U.S. Department of Labor 2017-Present |
Succeeded by Eugene Scalia |
