Former Rep. Anthony D'Esposito to get committee vote on nomination to Labor Department post

A Senate committee is set to vote Thursday on whether to advance President Donald Trump’s choice of former Long Island GOP congressman Anthony D’Esposito to be the Department of Labor’s internal watchdog.

If D’Esposito is approved or reported favorably by the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee, his nomination to be the department’s inspector general would go to the Senate floor for final confirmation, a committee spokesman said.

D’Esposito, 43, a Trump ally, could not be reached Tuesday. Some Republicans have said that — quite the opposite of placing him on the electoral sidelines — gaining the Labor Department post could put D’Esposito in a better position for a bid to win back his former congressional seat next year.

The one-term congressman was defeated in November by Rep. Laura Gillen, (D-Rockville Centre). Two years earlier, the former New York City police officer and Hempstead Town council member had defeated Gillen in what was then an open-seat race for New York’s Nassau County based 4th Congressional District.

Independent political analysts say the district will remain one of the nation’s most competitive in 2026 — and could be crucial to deciding which party will control the House majority.

When D’Esposito was asked by Newsday last month if he’s ruled out a potential rubber match against Gillen next year — and whether he would do so even if he gained the Labor Department post — he declined to say. But he does continue to respond and react to Gillen statements and activities on social media and elsewhere.

D’Esposito's nomination was initially sent by the White House to the Senate on March 31 along with those of several other nominees. The panel held a June 18 hearing and then scheduled a June 26 vote to advance them to the Senate floor.

Committee officials have not commented about why a vote for D’Esposito was delayed for nearly four months.