Biden Taps Scandal-Plagued Official to Lead Labor Department

Julie Su was California’s labor chief. She oversaw fraudulent unemployment payments totalling billions of dollars. Deputy Labor secretary Julie Su (Photo: Roy Rochlin/Getty Image for One Fair Wage).

Vice secretary Julie Su was nominated by President Joe Biden to be secretary of labor. This pick could face bipartisan resistance due to Su’s connections to California’s multibillion dollar unemployment fraud scandal.

Su will act as acting secretary until the Senate approves. This replaces Marty Walsh, who has resigned to head the National Hockey League Player’s Association. Su was previously the head of California’s labor department.

Su, California’s secretary to labor, oversaw fraudulent payments totaling billions of dollars through the state’s unemployment system. Washington Free Beacon reported. Bipartisan criticism was levelled at Su’s 2021 Senate confirmation hearing for fraud and broken websites.

“California is not a model to emulate for the rest of the country,” Richard Burr, then-senator (R.N.C.). “What’s worse about the fraud committed on California and the U.S. taxpayer is that it was entirely preventable.” In a narrow vote of 50 to 47, the Senate approved Su’s nomination.

The Biden administration is satisfied with Su’s selection, according to the AP reported:

Biden was under pressure from the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, other Asian American and Pacific Islander advocates, to choose Su to lead the department. This administration, despite being the most diverse in history, was the first to have no Cabinet secretary from AAPI descent. Kamala Harris, Vice President, and Katherine Tai, U.S. Trade Representative are both of AAPI descent. However they don’t head a Cabinet department.

Su, if confirmed would also increase the number women who serve in the president’s Cabinet.

Biden referred to Su’s involvement in negotiations between the administration & rail workers in 2022. Biden has praised the avoidance of a strike, but rail workers claimed he was not responsible. “turned his back on us” For omitting paid sick leave