The nomination of Eugene Scalia to be the new Secretary of Labor has advanced to the full Senate. On Tuesday, September 24, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee approved Scalia’s nomination on a party-line 12 to 11 vote. Scalia would succeed Alex Acosta, who resigned as Secretary of Labor over concerns about his role in failing to prosecute accuser sex-offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Eugene Scalia is the son of the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. Eugene Scalia had served as Solicitor of Labor during the George W. Bush administration before entering private law practice. Mr. Scalia has been a strong advocate for employers. As Secretary of Labor, he is expected to work towards rolling back regulations and limiting union activities in the workplace. It is unclear how Mr. Scalia’s nomination will affect Department of Labor agencies such as the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs.