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Alexander Acosta

Rene Alexander Acosta is an American lawyer and Republican politician who served as the 27th United States Secretary of Labor from 2017 to 2019.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Rene Alexander Acosta is an American lawyer and Republican politician who served as the 27th United States Secretary of Labor from 2017 to 2019. He previously held senior federal posts including assistant attorney general for civil rights and U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida. Acosta is a Harvard-educated native of Miami and the son of Cuban refugees.

Early life and education

Acosta was born in Miami, Florida, in 1969 and is the son of Cuban refugees. He studied at Harvard College and Harvard Law School.

Federal government career

He served as a member of the National Labor Relations Board, as assistant attorney general for civil rights, and later as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida.

Secretary of Labor

President Donald Trump nominated Acosta in February 2017, and the Senate confirmed him in April 2017. He served as the 27th U.S. Secretary of Labor until July 2019.

Later developments

Acosta resigned in 2019 after renewed scrutiny of a 2008 plea agreement involving Jeffrey Epstein during his time as U.S. attorney.

Key facts

  • Acosta was nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as U.S. Secretary of Labor and was confirmed by the Senate in April 2017.
  • He served on the National Labor Relations Board in 2002 and later led the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice.
  • He was U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida from 2005 to 2009.
  • Before becoming labor secretary, he was dean of the Florida International University College of Law.
  • He is the son of Cuban refugees and was raised in Miami.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Alexander Acosta?
He is an American lawyer and Republican politician who served as U.S. Secretary of Labor from 2017 to 2019.
When was Alexander Acosta born?
He was born on January 16, 1969.
What government jobs did he hold before becoming labor secretary?
He served on the National Labor Relations Board, led the DOJ Civil Rights Division, and was U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida.
Where did Alexander Acosta study?
He earned both his undergraduate and law degrees from Harvard University.
Why did Alexander Acosta resign in 2019?
His resignation followed renewed criticism of a 2008 non-prosecution agreement in the Jeffrey Epstein case from his time as U.S. attorney.

References

  1. U.S. Department of Labor — https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/OSEC/official-bio-acosta.pdf
    Supports: Born in Miami; son of Cuban refugees; Harvard education; service on NLRB, as assistant attorney general, U.S. attorney, and labor secretary.
  2. George W. Bush White House Archives — https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/government/racosta-bio.html
    Supports: Assistant attorney general role, prior NLRB service, Harvard education, and Miami background.
  3. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Acosta
    Supports: Birth date, office terms, party affiliation, and basic biography.
  4. C-SPAN — https://www.c-span.org/person/alexander-acosta/49478/
    Supports: Service as U.S. Secretary of Labor and association with the Jeffrey Epstein plea deal.
  5. Ballotpedia — https://ballotpedia.org/Alexander_Acosta
    Supports: Secretary of Labor tenure and resignation date.
  6. National Women's Law Center — https://www.nwlc.org/five-things-you-should-know-about-alex-acosta/
    Supports: Career summary and appointment history prior to labor secretary.