President Donald Trump’s nominee for labor secretary, former Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Ore., listed on her questionnaire for a Senate committee that she worked at a Planned Parenthood clinic when she was in her early 20s, according to a copy of the document reviewed by NBC News, although she also made it clear to senators she does not “personally” support abortion.
Chavez-DeRemer said on the form to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which will process her nomination, that she worked at the front desk of a Planned Parenthood clinic in California from January 1989 to May 1990. Her confirmation hearing had initially been scheduled for Wednesday but was delayed until next week because of a snowstorm in Washington.
Chavez-DeRemer has been under fire from some Senate Republicans over her pro-union stances, and it’s likely that she will need to rely on Democratic votes to carry her over the finish line. Her past affiliation with Planned Parenthood — an organization that the GOP has long railed against — could further add to Republican skepticism that her views are not aligned with the party’s on key issues, although no Republican has so far publicly raised her record on abortion as a concern.
Chavez-DeRemer has a “B” scorecard from Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, an anti-abortion group.
In her written response to the committee, Chavez-DeRemer addressed her work at Planned Parenthood, saying it was a “brief, part-time job.” She also said she does not support abortion and would not promote pro-abortion-rights policies at the Labor Department if she is confirmed.
“This brief, part-time job from over three decades has no bearing on my support for implementing President Trump’s pro-life agenda. … During my time in the House I had a 100% pro-life voting record,” Chavez-DeRemer wrote in the questionnaire. “I personally do not support abortion, and if confirmed, I would not use my position as Secretary to facilitate abortion access in Labor Department programs. My job will be to implement President Trump’s agenda.”
A spokesperson for Republicans on committee did not respond to a request for comment.
Senate committees are not required to publicly post the questionnaires they ask nominees to fill out, though some choose to do so. The Finance Committee released the form from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s pick to lead the Health and Human Services Department, while the HELP Committee did not post its questionnaire from Kennedy.
The Labor Department has far less of a role than HHS when it comes to abortion policy, although Project 2025 laid out some ways it could use labor laws to pursue more restrictive anti-abortion policies.
Chavez-DeRemer’s record on abortion was also an issue in the re-election race she lost in November, with her Democratic opponent hammering her as inconsistent on the issue. Chavez-DeRemer, who maintains she has a strong “pro-life” record, has said that she would oppose a national abortion ban and that she supports IVF treatments — a position that is in line with many others in the Republican Party.
Chavez-DeRemer is not the only Cabinet nominee whose abortion stance has come under the spotlight. Kennedy was grilled about his previously supportive views on abortion, but after he made assurances to Senate Republicans on the topic, as well as his controversial views on vaccines, he appears on track to be confirmed by the full Senate.
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