Former Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a member of her security detail, spent federal dollars on personal travel and created a “hostile work environment” during her tenure at the Department of Labor, according to an internal investigation released late Thursday.

Released months after Chavez-DeRemer resigned from her post at the top of the Labor Department amid a series of misconduct allegations, the report detailed serious violations and instances of intimidation by Chavez-DeRemer and other leaders at the agency designed to protect the rights of American workers.

Dozens of eyewitnesses interviewed by the department’s inspector general, Anthony D’Esposito, during the sprawling investigation described a “toxic, intimidating and humiliating” work environment, according to the report.

The witnesses “provided evidence of possible harassment, hostile work environment, employment discrimination, and retaliation,” by Chavez-DeRemer and her chief of staff, Jihun Han, and deputy chief of staff Rebecca Wright.

The investigation was sparked by a whistleblower who reported ethical misconduct by Chavez-DeRemer and her staff earlier this year. According to the anonymous complaint from January, the secretary was conducting an inappropriate relationship with a member of her security detail; had consumed alcohol during work hours on federal property, alongside other top department officials; had used federal funds for personal travel; had directed subordinates to perform tasks for her personal benefit; and had accepted gifts without reporting them through appropriate ethics channels.

Other subjects of the internal investigation included an unnamed official who was tasked with planning Chavez-DeRemer’s public appearances from March 31, 2025, until their termination on March 24, 2026, and an unnamed assistant special agent in charge who is accused in the report of having an inappropriate relationship with Chavez-DeRemer.

The agent, whose “personal relationship with Chavez-DeRemer contributed to a tense and hostile work environment,” according to the report, was placed on administrative leave on Jan. 16 following the whistleblower complaint. He remained on leave until his resignation in March.

“A preponderance of the evidence substantiated multiple violations of DOL policy by all five former DOL officials who were subjects of this investigation,” D’Esposito wrote.

Chavez-DeRemer, the Department of Labor and the White House did not immediately respond to MS NOW’s requests for comment.

In January, The New York Post reported that Chavez-DeRemer was the subject of an internal misconduct investigation following what the outlet called an “explosive complaint alleging she’s been ‘abusing her position’ by pursuing an ‘inappropriate’ relationship with a subordinate.”

In the wake of that report and others, Chavez-DeRemer directed Wright and Han to “identify employees they believed had provided information to the media,” the internal report said.

“Witnesses reported that Han and Wright subsequently openly investigated, questioned employees they believed were involved, and informed employees that they had advised Chavez-DeRemer to terminate three employees whom they believed provided information to the media,” according to the report. Witnesses said the media scrutiny of Chavez-DeRemer’s behavior intensified an already toxic work environment at the department.

Chavez-DeRemer also instructed Wright to remove career employees from their travel preparation duties after they raised concerns about her potential noncompliance with federal travel regulations, according to the report. On multiple occasions, Chavez-DeRemer used federal funds to take lavish trips during which she had few official engagements, the investigation found.

During last year’s 43-day federal government shutdown, which paused paychecks for thousands of federal workers and forced others to work without pay for months, Chavez-DeRemer booked a personal trip. When the government reopened, she added a single meeting between herself and Wright to the itinerary to qualify for federal reimbursement for the travel.

The published report ties a bow on a tumultuous chapter at the department. In the wake of Chavez-DeRemer’s resignation, President Donald Trump appointed Keith Sonderling to head the department temporarily. Sonderling is awaiting a Senate confirmation vote to make his tenure permanent.

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