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🗞️ Labor Secretary Chavez-DeRemer Visits Coal Country, Promotes Apprenticeships on National Tour

U.S. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer toured West Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee energy facilities, emphasizing workplace safety and workforce development while highlighting Trump administration apprenticeship goals and coal industry policies.

onthelaborfront

22 Jan 2026 — 2 min read

U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer continued her nationwide "America at Work" listening tour this week with visits to coal-fired power plants and industrial facilities across three states. The tour, which began in April 2025, aims to gather real-world feedback from American workers to inform federal labor policies.

In West Virginia, Secretary Chavez-DeRemer visited Appalachian Power's John E. Amos coal-fired plant in Charleston, where discussions centered on how the Trump administration's policies supporting the coal industry have impacted regional workers. The administration has opened 13.1 million acres of federal land for coal leasing and committed $625 million to coal plant modernization as part of efforts described by the administration as revitalizing the coal industry.

At Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky, the Secretary toured the historic facility and discussed the horseracing industry's economic contributions with Representative Andy Barr. The visit highlighted the multibillion-dollar industry's role in Kentucky's job market and economic output.

In Tennessee, Secretary Chavez-DeRemer concluded the week at Tennessee Valley Authority's Cumberland Fossil Plant, where she witnessed presentations on AI innovation and met with workers and union leaders. She reported progress toward President Trump's executive order goal of reaching 1 million active apprentices nationwide, stating that the administration has reached approximately 318,000 apprentices since January 2025.

The visits emphasized the administration's "American Workers First" commitment, focusing on creating mortgage-paying jobs through alternative pathways to employment beyond four-year degrees. Secretary Chavez-DeRemer, who was confirmed by the Senate in a 67-32 vote on March 10, 2025, is the daughter of a Teamster and former Republican congresswoman from Oregon.

Key Points

Multi-state tour: Secretary visited coal-fired plants in West Virginia and Tennessee, plus Kentucky's horseracing industry
Coal industry focus: Discussions highlighted Trump administration policies opening federal lands for coal mining and providing industry subsidies
Apprenticeship progress: Administration reports reaching approximately 318,000 apprentices since January 2025 toward 1 million goal
Workforce development focus: Emphasized alternative pathways to employment beyond traditional four-year college degrees
Union engagement: Met with union leaders and workers, drawing on her background as daughter of a Teamster
Workplace safety priority: Reiterated commitment to ensuring workers "come home safely at the end of the day"

Primary Source Author: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Secretary

Primary Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Secretary

Primary Source Link: https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/osec/osec20260122