Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling today announced key senior leadership roles within the Office of the Secretary to support the department’s ongoing work advancing President Trump’s agenda and delivering results for American workers, employers, and retirees.
“I’m proud to have a strong, experienced team in place to continue driving the department’s mission forward,” said Acting Secretary Sonderling. “Each of these individuals brings a deep understanding of the department’s work and a demonstrated ability to execute at a high level. Collectively, we are well-positioned to build on our progress and continue delivering meaningful results for American workers and businesses across the nation.”
The following individuals will serve in senior roles within the Office of the Secretary under Acting Secretary Keith Sonderling:
Courtney Walter, Chief of Staff – Walter previously served as senior counselor to the Secretary and served in various capacities at the department during the first Trump Administration, including as Senior Counsel in the Office of the Solicitor. Walter previously worked in the private sector, focusing on labor and employment matters. Walter has a bachelor’s degree from Penn State and a law degree from the Florida International University College of Law, where she graduated as valedictorian. Following law school, she spent two years clerking for the Honorable Ursula Ungaro in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
Garrett Buttrey, Deputy Chief of Staff – Buttrey previously served as chief of staff and senior policy advisor for the department’s Wage and Hour Division where he provided counsel to Wage and Hour Administrator Andrew Rogers on policy development, regulatory guidance, enforcement, and other matters before the agency. Before joining the Trump Administration in 2025, Buttrey served as senior policy counsel and chief counsel for the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions where he provided strategic counsel to the chairman as he developed the committee’s labor policy agenda, conducted oversight, and managed nominations. Buttrey began his career in the private sector as a litigator representing clients in labor and employment matters, including wage and hour issues, employment discrimination litigation, collective bargaining, and grievance arbitration. He was also an adjunct professor at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee and a law degree from George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School.
Cynthia McKnight, Deputy Chief of Staff – McKnight previously served as chief of staff and senior counselor to the Deputy Secretary of Labor. She has extensive labor and employment experience, having worked at multiple federal agencies, including the Department of Justice, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, National Labor Relations Board, Federal Labor Relations Authority, and Office of Congressional Workplace Rights. Before entering public service, McKnight worked in the private sector focusing on corporate and securities matters. She began her career clerking for Judge David B. Sentelle of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Miami University and a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center.
Joseph Burgese, Senior Advisor — Burgese previously served in the department as policy advisor for the Wage and Hour Division and chief of staff in the Office of Public Liaison, where he served as the primary contact to outside stakeholders. Prior to being appointed in the Trump Administration, he worked in the private sector where he focused on business development and financial strategy. He has also worked on gubernatorial, congressional, and senate campaigns throughout Pennsylvania, where he advised on strategy implementation, and is an alum of Turning Point USA. Burgese has a bachelor’s degree from Florida Atlantic University and earned his MBA from Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business, where he graduated summa cum laude.