"When people ask if this job is hard, I say not if you use the right lens: every decision must be made through the eyes of the American men and women who built this country. That's it," Chavez-DeRemer said of her eventful first year as secretary of labor during a podcast interview with the hosts of the Ruthless Podcast.
For HVAC pros, DeRemer's focus at the Department of Labor is to protect both workers and the businesses that employ them. Chavez-DeRemer didn't shy away from tough topics either, revealing the Department's ongoing battle with fraud in programs like unemployment insurance.
"We've recovered $1.4 billion for the Treasury by rooting out fraudulent activity - just from taking a little peek under the covers," she said, referencing a recent probe in Oregon and an imminent probe in Minnesota, where federal regulators have uncovered other high-profile fraud. She said these efforts matter: every dollar lost to fraud is a dollar that could've helped an out-of-work installer, tech, or small business owner bridge a tough patch.
The Secretary also highlighted fraud in the H-1B visa system, which can put downward pressure on wages for American tradespeople. Chavez-DeRemer promised, "If you're going to use cheap foreign labor to displace an American worker, we're not going to allow that ... Common sense says protect the American worker first."
One of Chavez-DeRemer's strongest messages is the resurrection of pride - and real opportunity - in America's skilled trades. With 700,000 open jobs for electricians, machinists, and plumbers, the Department of Labor is doubling down on apprenticeships. Chavez-DeRemer said, "We've registered 290,000 new apprenticeships since January. Private companies now see why it pays to train up American talent." For HVAC companies struggling to find and keep good techs, this is welcome news. Trade careers are getting fresh investment, plus a cultural boost from a Secretary who herself grew up in a Teamster family and knows that "blue-collar men and women should be proud to build with their hands."
What's new and different? Under Chavez-DeRemer, the Department of Labor has launched an aggressive expansion of apprenticeship opportunities nationwide. This summer, $84 million in new grants went out to every state and US territory - money dedicated to standing up new programs, modernizing training, recruiting apprentices, and plugging skills gaps in fields like HVAC, electrical, and high-tech manufacturing. The goal: hit 1 million active apprentices and build a workforce pipeline that lasts decades, according to the US Department of Labor.
There's also focus on equity: Chavez-DeRemer greenlit $5 million in WANTO (Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations) grants, clearing a path for women to join high-wage, high-demand fields typically closed off to them - including HVAC and construction, according to the DOL. She's been out in the field, touring sites like Micron in Idaho for the first machinist apprenticeship graduations and signing partnership agreements with states like Alabama and Colorado to speed up program launches and employer participation.
Looking ahead, Chavez-DeRemer addressed the impact of generative AI and new technologies. "AI is here to stay, and the President has said, 'we're going to win this AI race,'" she remarked, stressing the need for "AI literacy" among tomorrow's workforce. For HVAC professionals, this means more support for training, upskilling, and adopting tech that puts American businesses out front with smarter tools and safer worksites.
Money matters - something Chavez-DeRemer emphasized as she lauded tax cuts for working families in the Big Beautiful Bill. Still, according to the Cato Institute's director of tax policy studies Adam Michel, "your sort of typical W-2 worker with no kids will see very little change year-over-year."
Labor groups and industry advocates have been closely tracking the Department of Labor's apprenticeship expansion. North America's Building Trades Unions (NABTU), in a statement following Chavez-DeRemer's confirmation, expressed strong support for her focus: "Secretary Chavez-DeRemer has consistently backed the building trades and our gold-standard Registered Apprenticeship model. We are confident her commitment will connect more Americans to high-wage, high-skill careers in the trades, including HVAC."
Nonprofit advocates, including organizations representing women and minorities in the trades, also hailed the $5 million in new WANTO grants. A statement from the Oregon Tradeswomen organization called the funding "essential to expanding opportunity and paving new pathways for women in construction and mechanical trades," further noting that "strategic support from DOL is leveling the playing field - and it's long overdue."
Meanwhile, industry trade associations are keeping a close eye on implementation. In July, the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) noted that while "significant federal investment is helpful, execution will matter most - especially for small and midsize contractors facing skilled labor shortages." AGC said, "Businesses need these programs to connect to real apprentices and effective job pipelines in their local area or we risk missing the potential impact."
Finally, community groups on the ground are responding to the new outreach. At a recent Idaho workforce event, the Idaho Business for Education nonprofit said, "Having the Secretary of Labor on site to meet with local apprentices is a concrete sign that DOL is listening to Main Street employers, not just the big guys."
These external voices underline the wide attention - and some healthy skepticism - surrounding the Labor Department's apprenticeship revival under Chavez-DeRemer, reinforcing that federal policy is only the first step. Delivery at the job site, across big and small employers, will be what counts in the months ahead.