Labor Secretary Solis resigning

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Labor Secretary Solis resigning

Labor Secretary Hilda Solis has told colleagues she is resigning from Obama administration. Solis, a former California congresswoman, has led the department for...

Federal News Network Staff

January 9, 2013 6:28 pm

2 min read

WASHINGTON – (AP) Labor Secretary Hilda Solis has told colleagues she is resigning from Obama administration.

Solis, a former California congresswoman, has led the department for nearly four years, after being confirmed by the Senate in February 2009.

In an email message, Solis says she submitted her resignation letter to President Barack Obama on Wednesday afternoon. She says she made the decision to leave after discussing it with her family and close friends.

Solis has won praise from labor unions for aggressive enforcement of wage and hour laws and job safety regulations. But business groups have criticized her as not taking a more cooperative approach.

While high-profile personnel shuffles are common in second terms, there had been little speculation about Solis.

The White House released this statement:

Over her long career in public service – as an advocate for environmental justice in California, state legislator, member of Congress and Secretary of Labor – Hilda Solis has been a tireless champion for working families. Over the last four years, Secretary Solis has been a critical member of my economic team as we have worked to recover from the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression and strengthen the economy for the middle class. Her efforts have helped train workers for the jobs of the future, protect workers’ health and safety and put millions of Americans back to work. I am grateful to Secretary Solis for her steadfast commitment and service not only to the Administration, but on behalf of the American people. I wish her all the best in her future endeavors.

Meanwhile, the White House announced Attorney General Eric Holder, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki will all stay for Obama’s second term.