Overview
Alexander Acosta served as U.S. Secretary of Labor under President Donald Trump from April 2017 to July 19, 2019. His tenure ended when the renewed public focus on the 2008 Epstein NPA following Epstein’s July 6, 2019 federal arrest became politically untenable.
Confirmation Process
During Senate confirmation hearings in 2017, several senators questioned Acosta about the 2008 plea deal. Acosta defended it as the best outcome achievable given the evidence available at the time and federal/state jurisdiction complexity. He was confirmed 6038.
Criticsincluding victim advocates and some legal scholarsargued his confirmation should have been blocked pending a full review of the NPA.
Work at the Department of Labor
During his tenure, Acosta led initiatives including deregulation of overtime rules and changes to tip-pooling regulations. He was generally regarded within the administration as competent and uncontroversial until the Epstein story re-emerged.
The July 2019 Press Conference
After Epstein’s arrest on July 6, 2019, media scrutiny of Acosta’s role intensified. On July 10, Acosta held an unusual press conference to defend his 2008 decisions publiclyexplaining that the deal had secured an outcome (conviction and sex offender registration) that might otherwise have been lost, and making the intelligence claim that has never been substantiated.
Resignation
On July 19, 201913 days after Epstein’s arrestAcosta announced his resignation, citing his desire not to distract from the administration’s work. Trump praised him at the announcement.
Legacy
Acosta’s department had been responsible for enforcing labor trafficking laws even as its secretary had granted the plea deal enabling the trafficker he was supposed to be controlling. Victim advocates considered his departure long overdue.