Dozens of Senators Call for Withdrawal of Julie Su’s Labor Nomination

Nearly three dozen U.S. senators sent a letter to President Biden this week urging him to withdraw the nomination of Julie Su to be the next Secretary of Labor.

Julie Su, who has been Acting Secretary of Labor since the resignation of Secretary Marty Walsh earlier this year, was nominated by President Biden to become the Secretary of Labor in February. Her nomination has now been languishing in the Senate for nearly four months amid strong pushback from legislators, workers, and the business community alike. The letter, led by Senator Mike Braun (R-Ind.), was sent to the White House on Tuesday to encourage the president to formally withdraw his controversial labor nominee.

32 Republican senators signed onto the letter in addition to Sen. Braun, including Sens. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), John Thune (R-S.D.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and Todd Young (R-Ind.).

In the letter, the senators expressed concern over Julie Su’s record in her past role as Labor Secretary of California, particularly her involvement in the state’s disastrous AB 5 law:

“In her capacity as the head of California’s Labor and Workforce Development Agency, Ms. Su was the architect of a law that forced independent contractors in the state to reclassify themselves as W-2 employees, and she did not hesitate to express her willingness to enforce this law, threatening investigations and audits to the wage claim process for workers who did not comply. When asked about her position on this issue and if she would institute a similar policy as U.S. Secretary of Labor, Ms. Su has been consistently evasive in responding, despite offering strong public support for this policy prior to her current nomination.”

The senators also highlighted Su’s damaging role in supporting California’s so-called “FAST Recovery Act,” a legislative power grab targeting small businesses and franchises:

“Strong concerns from the small business community have also been expressed over Ms. Su’s approach to the current franchise business model, citing her support of California legislation that gave authority to government appointees to make decisions regarding wages and working conditions at independently owned restaurants across the state.”

The letter raised further concerns over Su’s failure to meet with minority staff of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, her evasiveness in answering questions about her past record, and her refusal to provide requested documents to Congress.

“Given this present state of affairs, we respectfully urge you to withdraw the nomination,” conclude the senators in their letter to the president.

Even some Democrats have started to float the idea of withdrawing Su’s nomination. Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.), who says he remains undecided on whether to confirm Su, told reporters that the White House “should know the votes. And if in fact the votes aren’t there, they should pull it and move on.”

Julie Su is far too radical to be confirmed as Secretary of Labor, a fact which is only further proven by the Biden administration’s failure to find enough votes for confirmation after four months. President Biden should withdraw the nomination immediately.

Read the full letter from the senators here.