Lori Chavez-Deremer, who served as Labor Secretary under President Donald Trump, has stepped down from her post.

In a statement shared on X, Steven Cheung, the White House Communications Director, announced on Monday evening that “Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer will be leaving the Administration to pursue a career in the private sector.”

Cheung praised her contributions, stating, “She has excelled in her role, safeguarding American workers, implementing equitable labor policies, and assisting Americans in acquiring new skills for personal advancement. Keith Sonderling will assume the position of Acting Secretary of Labor.”

Chavez-Deremer’s resignation follows a prolonged ethics investigation triggered by allegations of misconduct from late last year. Additionally, her husband is currently under scrutiny by the department’s Inspector General for sending inappropriate text messages to younger female staff members.

This recent development adds to the troubles of a department already mired in controversy, with earlier accusations involving alcohol-fueled work trips to strip clubs, illicit activities at casinos, and a stash of liquor discovered in the Washington, D.C., office.

Chavez-Deremer and her ex-deputy chief of staff sent texts asking staffers to bring them alcohol during work trips on behalf of the department. At times, the requests came during the middle of the workday.

She even allegedly drank on the job, with the Labor Department Inspector General’s complaint claiming that the Labor Secretary maintains ‘a stash’ of bourbon, Kahlua and champagne at her office in Washington DC. 

Additionally, the New York Post has reported that Chavez-DeRemer took her subordinates to a strip club in Oregon last year.

President Donald Trump’s Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-Deremer has resigned

Deremer was the subject of an ethics probe regarding alcohol in the office and an alleged affair with one of her security guards

Ex-Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-Deremer with her husband Shawn Deremer. Shawn Deremer was hit with accusations he sexually harassed a Labor Department staffer late last year. However, charges were never brought against the former secretary’s husband

The alleged trip on April 18, 2025 to the club Angels PDX took place at the end of a five-day trip intended for a meeting with the state’s Democratic governor Tina Kotek, a CEO of a truck manufacturer and a tour of an Intel chip center, the Post reported.

According to documents seen by the outlet, a total of $2,890.06 of taxpayer’s money was used for the trip to Oregon.

Further, the former Labor Secretary was allegedly involved with one of her security guards in an affair. 

Brian Sloan, the security guard, stepped down from his position last week, after being accused of having a romantic affair with the 57-year-old married Labor Secretary, Politico reports, citing two department officials.

He had previously been placed on leave amid the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General’s probe into allegations that Chavez-DeRemer engaged in unprofessional conduct.

Chavez-Deremer’s husband, Shawn DeRemer, was also steeped in controversy.

He texted young female staffers and was the subject of a sexual harassment probe before being barred from the department’s DC headquarters. 

Video of the interaction caught on security cameras shows Dr Deremer ‘giving one of the women an extended embrace’ and has been reviewed by law enforcement.

The secretary’s departure is the third Cabinet-level shakeup Trump’s inner-circle has seen since the start of his second term

According to a police report obtained by The Daily Mail, a woman told DC’s Metropolitan Police Department that she was sexually assault in the department’s building on December 18.

The Labor Department and the federal prosecutor’s office later decided against bringing charges against Shawn Deremer.

The secretary’s departure is the third Cabinet-level shakeup Trump’s inner-circle has seen since the start of his second term. 

All three have taken place in the last month and a half, with Kristi Noem leaving the Department of Homeland Security in early March and Pam Bondi leaving the Justice Department in early April. 

A tragic case has unfolded in Texas, where a repeat offender, recently released from custody, has been apprehended following the alleged murder of a pregnant woman. Authorities confirmed on Monday that Kevin Faux, aged 24, was taken into custody after being sought on a capital murder charge linked to the death of 23-year-old Ashanti Allen. At the time of her disappearance, Allen was eight months pregnant.

Allen was last seen leaving her home in Houston on April 10, marking the start of a distressing search that ended in tragedy. Faux was apprehended without any resistance in Louisiana by the U.S. Marshals Service’s New Orleans Office, as reported by the police.

The arrest of Faux was executed smoothly by the U.S. Marshals, ensuring he was taken into custody without incident. This arrest brings some closure to the case, which has captured significant attention due to the victim’s vulnerable condition and the suspect’s criminal history.

The case has highlighted concerns about the consequences of early releases for repeat offenders, as communities grapple with ensuring public safety while managing prison populations. As the legal proceedings continue, the focus will remain on justice for Ashanti Allen and her unborn child, whose lives were tragically cut short.

Allen, 23, was last seen on April 10 after leaving her Houston home, according to FOX 26.

She was eight months pregnant and experiencing a high-risk pregnancy when she disappeared, police said.

The Houston Police Department said that Faux was the father of Allen’s unborn child.

The 23-year-old woman was found dead on April 16 and police identified Faux as the suspect in her death.

According to the Houston Police Department, Ashanti Allen was last seen on April 8 and was reported missing by her mother on April 10. (GoFundMe)

Court records obtained by KHOU-TV show Faux had multiple prior assault-related cases, including a 2019 aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a 2021 misdemeanor assault involving another woman, and two 2025 assault charges involving Allen.

Faux was jailed in September 2025 in connection with the assaults against Allen. In February, he was sentenced to 280 days behind bars.

However, the local outlet reported that he received a “two-for-one” credit, a practice commonly used to manage the jail population, which cut his sentence in half.

Houston Police Department reveals the new image for future HPD patrol vehicles outside Houston Police Department Headquarters in Downtown on Monday, July 2, 2012, in Houston. (Mayra Beltran/Houston Chronicle)

Allen’s mother said she never knew about Faux’s history of violence.

“I didn’t know anything about the incidents until she went missing, because if I had known that, he would have never been around my daughter,” she told KHOU-TV.

Allen’s cause of death is not known at this time.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the U.S. Marshals Service for additional information.

Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact HPD Homicide at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

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Rif Hutton, a distinguished actor celebrated for his role in the TV series “Doogie Howser, M.D.,” has passed away at the age of 73.

According to TMZ, Hutton died at his residence in Pasadena, California, on Saturday, April 18, as reported on Monday.

His family revealed to the publication that he had been battling glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, for more than a year.

Hutton, whose passing comes just before that of fellow soap opera star Patrick Muldoon, was known for his portrayal of Dr. Ron Welch on “Doogie Howser, M.D.,” a series featuring Neil Patrick Harris as a young prodigy doctor.

In a heartfelt message on Facebook, Hutton’s friend, voice-over artist Steva Apostolina, expressed grief over his passing, stating that “a remarkable human being has left this earthly plane,” as noted by Deadline.

‘To say that Rif Hutton was one of a kind is a gross understatement… People knew when they hired him for a voice job that he was going to be the most prepared — he always was,’ Apostolina wrote. ‘He was also always first to show up on a gig — I had the great pleasure of beating him a few times and scooping a treasured chair, but those were few and far between.’

Rif Hutton, the prolific television actor best known for his work on Doogie Howser, M.D. has died at 73. Hutton died at his home in Pasadena, California, on Saturday, TMZ reported on Monday; pictured on General Hospital

His family told the publication that the actor had been stricken with brain cancer for over a year. Hutton played Dr. Ron Welch on Doogie Howser, M.D., which starred Neil Patrick Harris (front center) as a teenage doctor

The tribute painted a portrait of Hutton as someone who was determined to support his fellow actors.

‘When the SAG strike broke out,’ Apsotolina wrote, ‘he was on the line every day at Warner Bros. — a constant vision of support.’

According to Deadline, Hutton was diagnosed with a brain tumor in March 2025.

His cancer, glioblastoma, is considered both the most common and most aggressive form of brain cancer, and tends to have a poor prognosis, with most people diagnosed with it only living another 12 to 18 months, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

After five years, glioblastoma has a five-year survival rate.

Following his diagnosis, Hutton participated in the National Brain Tumor Society’s Southern California Brain Tumor Walk to raise awareness about the disease.

‘Every person facing Glioblastoma, or any brain disorder, deserves this kind of support — to be surrounded by encouragement, by prayer, and by stalwart champions of hope and light,’ Hutton wrote on social media at the time, via Deadline. ‘There continues to be meaningful advancements in the fight against [glioblastoma], and that fight needs all of us. Please support it in whatever way you can.’

Hutton was a recurring character on Doogie Howser, M.D. for 17 episodes from its first season in 1989 to its fourth and final season in 1993.

Hutton (pictured with Kathryn Morris on Cold Case in 2003) was diagnosed with the brain cancer glioblastoma in March 2025. The condition, which is the most common and most aggressive form of brain cancer, has a poor prognosis, with most people only living 12 to 18 months after diagnosis

Hutton played Dr. Ron Welch on Doogie Howser, M.D. (pictured), which starred Neil Patrick Harris as a teenage doctor

Hutton was a recurring character on Doogie Howser, M.D. for 17 episodes from its first season in 1989 to its fourth and final season in 1993; (L–R) James Sikking, Neil Patrick Harris and Belinda Montgomery on Doogie Howser, M.D.

Later, he became known for his work on JAG, on which he appeared in 15 episodes as Lt. Cmdr. Alan Mattoni. More recently, Hutton appeared on 32 episodes of General Hospital, from 2021 to 2022; pictured on Rattled! in 2022

Later, he became known for his work on JAG, on which he appeared in 15 episodes as Lt. Cmdr. Alan Mattoni. 

More recently, Hutton appeared on 32 episodes of General Hospital, from 2021 to 2022.

He was previously featured on all 95 episodes of the teen-focused Fox soap Tribes, which only aired from March through July of 1990.

In addition to his work on numerous TV shows, Hutton also starred on a popular series of KFC commercials in the early to mid-1990s. 

Although he was best known for his TV work, Hutton was also featured extensively in films, though he tended to work behind the scenes as a voice actor. 

He provided multiple voices for 2016’s Ice Age: Collision Course, while one of his final on-screen roles was in the 2022 crime comedy Rattled!. 

Hutton was born in 1952 in San Antonio, Texas, and his family later moved to East Orange, New Jersey. 

According to the Los Angeles Times, he experienced a period of homelessness in his 20s after moving to California’s Bay Area in the mid-1970s as he tried to get into acting. 

Hutton experienced a period of homelessness in the mid-1970s after moving from New Jersey to California’s Bay Area in his 20s, but the experience led him to support multiple charities throughout his life after becoming a successful actor; seen on Step By Step in 1993

‘I had [brought] $1,000. I kept going on auditions, thinking I would get a job that would turn things around,’ he told the newspaper in 1993 while starring on Doogie Howser. ‘One day, I looked in my wallet and realized I had no money for a room for the night. I snuck into a hotel that was being refurbished and slept on newspapers, and the next night I slept in a movie theater. 

‘I finally made it out, with the help of friends,’ he added.

The experience led Hutton to regularly support and donate to charities like the Los Angeles Mission for the Homeless, where he would serve Thanksgiving dinners, and he distributed Christmas toys to patients at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and organized events for military veterans. 

‘I thought then, when the time comes, I want to help,’ Hutton told the LA Times. ‘I want to give back.’

Hutton is survived by his wife, the voice actress Bridget Hoffman, and his son Wolfy. 

California’s state treasurer, Fiona Ma, is currently under scrutiny for accepting substantial campaign contributions from Steven Ma, the founder of a Chinese boarding school embroiled in a significant fraud investigation. Reports suggest that during a discreet visit in 2023, Fiona Ma allegedly assured Chinese elites that their children would receive job and internship opportunities.

Steven Ma, whose Qingdao-based boarding school charges $34,000 annually, is under investigation for allegedly issuing fraudulent California diplomas to influential Chinese students. These diplomas purportedly helped students gain admission to prestigious institutions like the University of California.

In her bid for the position of lieutenant governor, Fiona Ma has reportedly accepted over $30,000 from Steven Ma. This financial backing is now raising questions given the school’s involvement in a controversial diploma scheme.

The scandal was uncovered through an extensive 1,000-page audit by Riverside County, which identified a concerning pattern of favors, official acts, promises, and payments. These were linked to a pilot program approved by the government between Pegasus California School and the Val Verde School District in Riverside County.

The audit revealed that Pegasus California School was issuing diplomas that appeared to be from Val Verde schools in California. This was a crucial selling point for Chinese students aiming to enter the elite University of California system. The program’s promotion involved high-ranking officials from the Department of Education and Val Verde School District.

The audit found evidence of “potential bribes and/or kickbacks in the form of direct and indirect financial benefits” to the California officials — such as a $13,600 campaign contribution to Torlakson, a paid consulting offer to McCormick, and free trips to China for school board members.

Federal prosecutors have since launched a probe into Pegasus California School’s ties to California agencies.

“Our responsibility is to safeguard the integrity of public education and ensure that taxpayer resources are used lawfully and transparently,” said Riverside County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Edwin Gomez in a statement.

“This audit identified serious concerns that merit further review by the appropriate authorities. We will continue to act with integrity, follow the law, and ensure that the interests of students and the public remain at the center of every decision,” he added.

Steven Ma, who also ran an education firm called Think Tank Learning, profited handsomely from his education ventures — buying up a $364,000 private plane, a $115,000 Mercedes-Benz, and a home worth more than $2.8 million in wealthy Pleasanton, according to bankruptcy papers filed after the company went belly-up during Covid.

He also spent some of his spoils on political candidates — including Ma, a longtime Dem official who served in the State Assembly and on the Board of Equalization before becoming state Treasurer in 2019.

Starting in early 2023, Steven Ma made six hefty donations totaling $13,200 to Fiona Ma’s campaign for lieutenant governor — just months before she personally visited the school, promising access to “internship and employment opportunities,” according to a blog post on the school’s website.

Ma paid a visit to Pegasus School in September 2023 after announcing she was going on vacation in an Instagram post.

“Fiona chose Pegasus as the only school to visit in China, which shows the California government’s recognition and attention to Pegasus,” the school boasted in the now-archived blog post.

“I am honored to come to Qingdao Pegasus California School today to see many students perform and communicate with them. If they want to intern in California, they can come to me, I will provide some internship and employment opportunities,” the post read, appearing to paraphrase Ma.

The school’s alumni page shows numerous students enrolled UC Berkeley, UCLA. UC Santa Barbara and other stop state schools.

Steven Ma was a longtime supporter of Ma’s political aspirations, contributing $7,600 to her State Board of Equalization campaign between 2015 and 2016, according to campaign records.

He then kicked in $14,000 to her campaign for treasurer in 2018, records show.

The California Department of Education was forced to issue a cease-and-desist to Pegasus demanding it delete references to state agencies.

Ma’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment.