US Senate confirms Acosta as Labour Secretary

Washington, April 28 (IANS) The US Senate confirmed one of the final members of President Donald Trumps Cabinet, Labour Secretary Alexander Acosta, the media reported.

Acosta, Trump’s second choice to run the Labour Department, was confirmed on Thursday evening by a 60-38 vote, just ahead of the President’s 100th day in office, The Hill magazine reported.

The former Republican member of the National Labour Relations Board (NLRB) takes the helm of the department at a time when worker tensions are rising across America.

Trump scrambled to find a replacement after his first pick to run the Labour Department, restaurant executive Andrew Puzder, dropped out in February. Trump nominated Acosta the following day.

Puzder withdrew his nomination after it became apparent he did not have enough Republican support to be confirmed by the Senate.

After his confirmation, Trump’s pick for US Trade Representative, Robert Lighthizer, is now the final Cabinet-level nominee awaiting Senate confirmation, reports The Hill magazine.

The Senate Finance Committee approved Lighthizer on Tuesday, moving his nomination to the full Senate for approval.

During his confirmation hearing, Acosta signalled he would like to rewrite the rule to increase the overtime threshold from what it used to be ($23,660), but not as high as the Obama administration set it.