U.S. Secretary of Labor Acosta announces Wayne Palmer as Chief of Staff

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta today announced that Wayne Palmer will serve as Chief of Staff in the Office of the Secretary. An executive with expertise in management, policy and communications, Palmer has extensive experience in Congress, in the executive branch, and in the private sector.

Palmer joined the Trump Administration on Inauguration Day as Senior White House Advisor, leading the U.S. Department of Labor’s beachhead team. “It is an honor to once again serve our country, and I am deeply grateful to Secretary Acosta for the opportunity. It has been a privilege working alongside the Department of Labor’s dedicated team, and I look forward to working with them and everyone at the Department to execute the Secretary’s goals and provide positive results for the American people,” Palmer said.

He previously served as Senior Manager of Congressional Relations at the nonpartisan Center for Presidential Transition, executing strategies to improve the timeliness and quality of Senate-confirmed presidential appointments. Palmer’s career also includes 13 years on Capitol Hill, where he served as Chief of Staff to Senate Republican Conference Chairman Rick Santorum (R-PA) and Legislative Director to Senator George Voinovich (R-OH). 

Palmer graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a bachelor’s degree in political science from Penn State. He also holds a master’s degree in government administration from the University of Pennsylvania. He began his public policy career as a Presidential Management Fellow at the U.S. Department of Commerce.