Government paid discrimination claim related to office of ex-Rep. Chavez-DeRemer

Ryan Tarinelli, CQ-Roll Call on Jan 30, 2026

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WASHINGTON — The government paid nearly $100,000 to resolve an employment discrimination claim that arose from the former congressional office of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, according to a report from the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights.

The OCWR annual report lists the amount of the award or settlement — $98,650 — and that it was tied to a part of federal statute that bans discrimination based on a worker’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status or age. The report was uploaded to the office’s website.

It’s the largest award or settlement from a House office since at least 2019, according to past reports, and the secretary’s was the only House office to have an employment discrimination claim payment in 2025.

Awards and settlements that resolve a claims under a law are paid from a Treasury Department account that receives appropriations for that purpose, according to a Congressional Research Service report.

The report does not indicate whether Chavez-DeRemer, an Oregon Republican whose one term ended Jan. 3, 2025, was involved in the conduct related to her congressional office.

But the OCWR lists “N/A” under several categories related to whether a member of Congress must reimburse the payment, indicating there was not a finding that discrimination was committed personally by Chavez-DeRemer.

The Department of Labor did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

As Labor secretary, Chavez-DeRemer is facing accusations that she had an alleged romantic relationship with a staff member and abused her Cabinet-level position.

Chavez-DeRemer is facing heightened scrutiny after The New York Post reported earlier this month that she was under internal investigation after a complaint was filed with her department’s Office of Inspector General.

She has been accused of drinking during the workday and engaging in travel fraud — having officials come up with trips where she could meet with friends or family, according to the news report.

A department spokesperson told the Post that the “unsubstantiated allegations are categorically false” and said Chavez-DeRemer has complied with all ethics rules and department policies.

Two senior aides have been placed on administrative leave, according to multiple news reports. A member of her security detail has also been put on administrative leave, The New York Times reported last week.