Bloomberg Law
July 18, 2019, 3:23 PM

Acosta Touts Labor Deregulation, Enforcement in Goodbye Email

Ben Penn
Ben Penn
Reporter

Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta attempted to establish a legacy as a job creator, enforcer, and deregulator in a parting thank you email to staff obtained by Bloomberg Law.

Acosta’s July 17 message was sent two days before he’s scheduled to exit, paving the way for Deputy Secretary Patrick Pizzella to assume acting control of the department. The outgoing secretary announced July 12 that he would resign, amid outrage over a 2008 plea deal he reached as a federal prosecutor for accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein that many have considered lenient.

Despite criticism from business groups and some White House aides ...