page_title: Cabinet of Donald Trump
section_title: Alex Acosta
hierarchical_section_title: Cabinet of Donald Trump / Cabinet / Secretary of Labor / Alex Acosta
caption_attribution_description: English: U.S. Secretary of Labor R. Alexander Acosta Official White house Swearing in Ceremony hosted by Vice President Mike Pence.
context_page_description: Trump assumed office on January 20, 2017 and the President has the authority to nominate members of his Cabinet to the United States Senate for confirmation under the Appointments Clause of the United States Constitution.
  Before confirmation and during congressional hearings a high-level career member of an executive department heads this pre-confirmed cabinet on an acting basis. The Cabinet's creation was part of the transition of power following the 2016 United States presidential election.
  This page documents the confirmation process for any successful or unsuccessful Cabinet nominees of Donald Trump's administration. They are listed in order of creation of the Cabinet position.
context_section_description: On February 16, 2017, Alex Acosta, dean of the Florida International University College of Law and former Justice Department attorney, was officially selected to be the Secretary of Labor. On April 27, 2017, Acosta was confirmed by the Senate in a 60–38 vote.
  Acosta announced his resignation on July 12, 2019, following widespread criticism of his handling of the prosecution of and subsequent plea deal with Jeffrey Epstein when serving as U.S. District Attorney in Florida. His deputy, Patrick Pizzella, became acting Secretary.
caption: Acosta being sworn in as the Secretary of Labor by Vice President Mike Pence, on April 28, 2017.
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