The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee delayed yet again a hearing for President Trump’s nominee to head the Labor Department, fast-food businessman Andy Puzder.
The hearing, which had been set for Feb. 7, was abruptly called off Tuesday and a new date has not been set, a source with knowledge of the situation who requested anonymity told the Washington Examiner. The source said the delay was not at Puzder’s request. The committee has not confirmed the delay.
Puzder was initially scheduled to have a committee hearing this month, but it was bumped, first until Feb. 2 and then until Feb. 7. A Senate source said the reason was a conflict with a hearing for education secretary nominee Betsy DeVos. The latest delay follows weeks of criticisms of the Puzder from organized labor groups, who have argued the nominee has an anti-worker record.
A Senate aide said Puzder has not done the required paperwork for the committee to hold the hearing.
“The committee will not officially notice a confirmation hearing with Mr. Puzder until the committee has received his paperwork from the Office of Government Ethics,” the aide told the Washington Examiner.
“It’s unfortunate that the deliberate attacks from the Democrats and their special interests will persist because of those bent on obstructing President Trump’s nominees. Andy Puzder is what America’s workers and small businesses need — a proven job creator,” said Puzder spokesman George Thompson.
Thompson could not say whether Puzder had provided the committee with all of the required paperwork.
Puzder is chief executive officer of CKE Restaurants, which owns the Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s franchises. He also has been an outspoken critic of federal regulations created by the Obama administration.
