Confirmation hearings for Andrew Puzder, President Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Labor, have been postponed for the third time, according to the Washington Post. Hearings are now scheduled for February 7.
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The fast food CEO was originally scheduled to testify before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on January 12. Hearings were previously postponed to January 17, then to February 2, before the latest delay.
Puzder is the CEO of CKE Restaurants, the parent company of fast food chains including Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s. He has been criticized by many for his outspoken opposition to what he views as excessive government regulation, including minimum wage increases and paid sick leave.
If confirmed, Puzder would head the Department of Labor and set the direction for its many agencies, including OSHA, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). A potential replacement for outgoing Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health David Michaels has not yet been announced.