US Code

Public Law 119-87 (04/30/2026)

29 U.S.C. § 552

Deputy Secretary; appointment; duties

There is established in the Department of Labor the office of Deputy Secretary of Labor, which shall be filled by appointment by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Deputy Secretary shall perform such duties as may be prescribed by the Secretary of Labor or required by law. The Deputy Secretary shall (1) in case of the death, resignation, or removal from office of the Secretary, perform the duties of the Secretary until a successor is appointed, and (2) in case of the absence or sickness of the Secretary, perform the duties of the Secretary until such absence or sickness shall terminate.

Apr. 17, 1946, ch. 140, § 1 60 Stat. 91 Pub. L. 99–619, § 2(a)(1)100 Stat. 3491 (, ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Codification

section 5314 of Title 5Provisions of this section which prescribed the basic annual compensation of the Under [Deputy] Secretary were omitted to conform to the provisions of the Executive Schedule. See , Government Organization and Employees.

section 611a of Title 5Pub. L. 89–554, § 180 Stat. 378 Section was formerly classified to prior to the general revision and enactment of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, by , , .

Amendments

Pub. L. 99–6191986— substituted “Deputy Secretary” for “Under Secretary” in three places.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

References in Other Laws

Pub. L. 99–619, § 2(a)(4)100 Stat. 3491

“Any reference to the Under Secretary of Labor in any law, rule, regulation, certificate, directive, or other document in force on the date of enactment of this Act [] shall be deemed to refer and apply to the Deputy Secretary of Labor.”
, , , provided that:

Present Incumbent

Pub. L. 99–619, § 2(f)(1)100 Stat. 3492

section 5313 of Title 5“The incumbent in the position of Under Secretary of Labor on the date of enactment of this Act [] may serve as Deputy Secretary of Labor at the pleasure of the President after such date and the amendments made by subsection (a)(2) [amending , Government Organization and Employees] shall apply to such incumbent.”
, , , provided that:

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

64 Stat. 1263 For transfer of functions of other officers, employees, and agencies of Department of Labor, with certain exceptions, to Secretary of Labor, with power to delegate, see Reorg. Plan No. 6, of 1950, §§ 1, 2, 15 F.R. 3174, , set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

Order of Succession

section 3345 of Title 5For order of succession during any period when both Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Labor are unable to perform functions and duties of office of Secretary, see Ex. Ord. No. 13245, , 66 F.R. 66268, listed in a table under , Government Organization and Employees.