Keith Sonderling
Another of the cadre of conservative lawyers within DOGE, Sonderling had been the commisioner of the EEOC in the previous Trump administration. He was tapped to be Deputy Secretary by Trump for DOL, but he has also served as support for Nate Cavanaugh’s wrecking crew. Exploiting a rule in the Vacancies Act that lets the administraion named appointed officials as acting leaders of other agencies, DOGE has named Sonderling as the acting leaders in the IMLS and MBDA so he could order their destruction.
Positions
Appointed:
1/20/25-3/23/25 Senior Advisor $195,200
Promotion:
3/23/25 promoted to Deputy Secretary of Labor $183,100
Appointed:
1/20/25-3/23/25 Senior Advisor $195,200
Promotion:
3/23/25 promoted to Deputy Secretary of Labor $183,100
| Source: | Onboarding documentation at DOL for Keith Sonderling Document Cloud, 7/15/25 |
| Source: | Onboarding documentation at DOL for Keith Sonderling Document Cloud, 7/15/25 |
Appointed:
3/20/25 Acting Director
Appointed:
3/20/25 Acting Director
| Source: | DOGE Descends on the Institute for Museum and Library Services ArtNet News, 3/20/25 |
Appointed:
c.4/17/25 Acting Undersecretary «Nate Cavanaugh sent out grant rejections under the authority of Sonderling as Acting Undersecretary»
Appointed:
c.4/17/25 Acting Undersecretary «Nate Cavanaugh sent out grant rejections under the authority of Sonderling as Acting Undersecretary»
| Source: | Letter from the Senate Commerce Committee to Keith Sonderling about MBDA The Senate Commerce Committee, 4/30/25 |
Events
1/20/25
Appointed:
Keith Sonderling starts as Senior Advisor at DOL.
Appointed:
Keith Sonderling starts as Senior Advisor at DOL.
| Appointed: | Keith Sonderling 1/20/25-3/23/25 |
| Position Title: | Senior Advisor, Office of the Assistant Secretary |
| Salary: | $195,200 |
| Source: | Onboarding documentation at DOL for Keith Sonderling Document Cloud, 7/15/25 |
3/20/25
Appointed:
Keith Sonderling starts as Acting Director at IMLS.
Appointed:
Keith Sonderling starts as Acting Director at IMLS.
| Appointed: | Keith Sonderling 3/20/25 |
| Position Title: | Acting Director |
| Source: | DOGE Descends on the Institute for Museum and Library Services ArtNet News, 3/20/25 |
Official Action:
After being sworn in as the acting director of the IMLS, Keith Sonderling issues a statement that he “will revitalize IMLS and restore focus on patriotism, ensuring we preserve our country’s core values, promote American exceptionalism and cultivate love of country in future generations.”
Official Action:
After being sworn in as the acting director of the IMLS, Keith Sonderling issues a statement that he “will revitalize IMLS and restore focus on patriotism, ensuring we preserve our country’s core values, promote American exceptionalism and cultivate love of country in future generations.”
| Person: | Keith Sonderling |
| Source: | Keith E. Sonderling Sworn In as Acting Director of Institute of Museum and Library Services Institute of Museum and Library Services, 3/20/25 |
| Agency: | IMLS |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
Sighting:
DOGE arrives at IMLS HQ and are startled to find most of the staff there. The DOGE representatives quickly swear in Keith Sonderling as acting director of IMLS and then leave.
Sighting:
DOGE arrives at IMLS HQ and are startled to find most of the staff there. The DOGE representatives quickly swear in Keith Sonderling as acting director of IMLS and then leave.
| Person: | Keith Sonderling |
| Source: | DOGE Descends on the Institute for Museum and Library Services ArtNet News, 3/20/25 |
| Agency: | IMLS |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
3/23/25
Promotion:
Keith Sonderling promoted to Deputy Secretary of Labor at DOL
Promotion:
Keith Sonderling promoted to Deputy Secretary of Labor at DOL
| Promotion: | Keith Sonderling 3/23/25 |
| Position Title: | Deputy Secretary of Labor, Office of the Secretary |
| Salary: | $183,100 |
| Source: | Onboarding documentation at DOL for Keith Sonderling Document Cloud, 7/15/25 |
c.4/09/25
Disruption:
The remaining 5 employees of the MBDA are transferred out of the agency.
Disruption:
The remaining 5 employees of the MBDA are transferred out of the agency.
| Question: | Fuzz: Date is unspecified |
| Person: | Keith Sonderling, Nate Cavanaugh |
| Source: | State of Rhode Island v. Trump, doc 35-4 Court Document, 4/11/25 |
| Agency: | MBDA |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
4/09/25
Disruption:
All but 5 employees are sent expedited 30-day termination notices and placed on immediate administrative leave by DOGE staff.
Disruption:
All but 5 employees are sent expedited 30-day termination notices and placed on immediate administrative leave by DOGE staff.
| Person: | Keith Sonderling, Nate Cavanaugh |
| Source: | State of Rhode Island v. Trump, doc 35-4 Court Document, 4/11/25 |
| Agency: | MBDA |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
4/17/25
Disruption:
According to a sworn declaration by an employee of MBDA, Nate Cavanaugh sends emails terminating MBDA grants under the authority of Keith Sonderling, who is the acting undersecretary of the MBDA
Disruption:
According to a sworn declaration by an employee of MBDA, Nate Cavanaugh sends emails terminating MBDA grants under the authority of Keith Sonderling, who is the acting undersecretary of the MBDA
| Person: | Keith Sonderling, Nate Cavanaugh |
| Source: | State of Rhode Island v. Trump, doc 45-1 Court Document, 4/17/25 |
| Agency: | MBDA |
| DOGE Project: | Spending |
c.4/17/25
Appointed:
Keith Sonderling starts as Acting Undersecretary at MBDA.
Appointed:
Keith Sonderling starts as Acting Undersecretary at MBDA.
| Appointed: | Keith Sonderling c.4/17/25 |
| Position Title: | Acting Undersecretary |
| Source: | Letter from the Senate Commerce Committee to Keith Sonderling about MBDA The Senate Commerce Committee, 4/30/25 |
| Note: | Nate Cavanaugh sent out grant rejections under the authority of Sonderling as Acting Undersecretary |
4/30/25
Oversight:
Democratic members of the US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation send a letter to Keith Sonderling requesting details on his appointment as acting undersecretary of the MBDA and other information about DOGE’s takeover and destruction of the agency.
Oversight:
Democratic members of the US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation send a letter to Keith Sonderling requesting details on his appointment as acting undersecretary of the MBDA and other information about DOGE’s takeover and destruction of the agency.
| Person: | Keith Sonderling, Nate Cavanaugh |
| Source: | Letter from the Senate Commerce Committee to Keith Sonderling about MBDA The Senate Commerce Committee, 4/30/25 |
| Agency: | MBDA |
6/12/25
Legal:
The plaintiffs in Rhode Island v. Trump et al file an amended complaint asking the court to rule that the IMLS closure was unconstitutional and violated the Administrative Procedures Act. As part of this filing, they issued summons to Keith Sonderling, Donald Trump, Howard Lutnick and Russell Vought. They have 60 days to respond, pushing the nest phase of the trial to August.
Legal:
The plaintiffs in Rhode Island v. Trump et al file an amended complaint asking the court to rule that the IMLS closure was unconstitutional and violated the Administrative Procedures Act. As part of this filing, they issued summons to Keith Sonderling, Donald Trump, Howard Lutnick and Russell Vought. They have 60 days to respond, pushing the nest phase of the trial to August.
| Person: | Keith Sonderling, Russell Vought |
| Source: | Results Vary in Legal Efforts to Restore IMLS Publishers Weekly, 6/18/25 |
| Agency: | IMLS |