Julie Su, President Biden's Labor Secretary nominee, faced a barrage of tough questions from Republican senators on her record as California's top labor official during her confirmation hearing on April 20. Many Republican senators, who are concerned that she is an ideologue who would drag workforce policy to the left, have mobilized a fierce opposition campaign against her nomination. Utah GOP Sen. Mitt Romney spent part of his time grilling Su on her handling of unemployment benefits in California during the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly her lack of oversight on the state's Employment Development Department, which paid out billions on fraudulent claims. If Su does not secure the support of other key Democrats in the Senate, she may face an uphill battle to confirmation when the full chamber casts its vote. Su, however, appeared to be effectively pre-empting such attacks by Democrats supporting her nomination. Democrats on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which held the hearing, were quick to defend Su's record. Su would be the first ever Asian-American to become a Cabinet secretary if confirmed.