washington president donald trump thursday nominate former national labor relations board member r. alexander acosta serve u.s. secretary labor one day trump original choice withdraw acosta dean florida international university college law miami trump first hispanic nominee acosta decades-long public service career serve three presidentially appoint senate-confirmed position expect face smooth confirmation process mr acosta nomination good start already confirm senate three time say senator lamar alexander chair senate committee health education labor pension vet nomination acosta appoint national labor relations board nlrb former republican president george w. bush also appoint assistant attorney general justice department civil right division appoint u.s. attorney southern district florida go high-profile defendants jack abramoff ubs result swiss bank pay 750 million fin tax-avoidance scheme acosta also previously serve law clerk samuel alito 1994 1995 conservative supreme court justice judge 3rd u.s. circuit court appeal thank president staff confidence eager work tirelessly behalf american worker acosta say statement nlrb acosta sign hundreds opinions familiar work describe careful cautious public servant whose career trajectory suggest may someday vie federal judgeship already go multiple vettings u.s. senate unlikely surprise background could derail nomination choice acosta traditional republican conservative see sign trump force give aggressive policy worker issue trump first labor secretary pick andrew puzder chief executive officer cke restaurants inc outspoken opposition issue overtime pay minimum wage hike even discuss superiority robots human workers remove name consideration wednesday amid concern could garner enough senate vote confirm humble donald trump say seth harris former act labor secretary obama administration say puzder would radical disruptor acosta acosta staunch defender civil right muslims face backlash sept. 11 2001 attack unite state 2011 congressional hear acosta applaud justice department respond civil right violations say help assure muslim americans government would protect right progressive group already respond negatively acosta appointment ally progress allege mismanage department justice civil right division run 2008 internal justice department report fault acosta fail rein staffer engage improper politicize hire however response acosta nomination union group staunchly oppose puzder much measure thursday unlike andy puzder alexander acosta nomination deserve serious consideration say afl-cio president richard trumka one day go fast-food ceo routinely violate labor law public servant experience enforce it trump tap ex-labor board member acosta labor secretary