President Trump’s pick to head the Labor Department will go before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on Feb. 16 for his long-awaited confirmation hearing, according to a spokesperson for Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.).
The new date marks the fourth time that CKE Restaurants CEO Andrew Puzder’s hearing was rescheduled. It was most recently set for Tuesday but delayed last week to give Puzder time to separate himself from CKE, which owns the Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s fast food chains.
Puzder’s nomination has stirred criticism because of his views on issues such as sick leave and overtime pay for workers.
{mosads}The fast food CEO admitted on Monday that he had once employed an undocumented immigrant as a housekeeper, but said that he fired the woman when he learned that she wasn’t eligible to work in the U.S.
“When I learned of her status, we immediately ended her employment and offered her assistance in getting legal status,” Puzder said in a statement. “We have fully paid back taxes to the IRS and the State of California.”
Still, the admission is likely to be a focus of his hearing next week. Already, four GOP senators on the committee have refused to say whether they will vote to confirm Puzder, potentially jeopardizing his nomination.