Alexander Acosta Bio
Rene Alexander Acosta (born January 16, 1969) is an American lawyer, government official, and former academic who served as the 27th United States Secretary of Labor from 2017 to 2019 under President Donald Trump. A member of the Republican Party, he held several high-profile federal posts during the George W. Bush administration, including United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida and Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. Acosta resigned as Labor Secretary in July 2019 amid bipartisan criticism of his office’s handling of a 2007–08 non-prosecution agreement in the Jeffrey Epstein case. Since 2025, he has served on the board of Newsmax, where he chairs the audit committee.
Early Life and Background
Acosta was born on January 16, 1969, in Miami, Florida, the only son of Cuban immigrants. He grew up in Miami, where he attended Gulliver Schools. His family background shaped his strong interest in public service and the law, and he became the first member of his family to graduate from university.
He went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Harvard University in 1990. Acosta then attended Harvard Law School, where he was a member of the Harvard Latino Law Review and graduated in 1994 with a Juris Doctor, cum laude. His education laid the foundation for a career in law, public policy, and government.
Path to Public Service
After law school, Alexander Acosta clerked for Judge Samuel Alito, then on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, from 1994 to 1995. He then joined the Washington, D.C. office of Kirkland & Ellis as an associate, specializing in labor and employment matters. While in private practice, he also taught employment law, disability-based discrimination law, and civil rights law at the George Mason University School of Law.
Acosta’s interest in government service led him to take on several appointed roles. He served on the board of trustees of Gulliver Schools, including a term as chairman, before being appointed to senior positions in the U.S. Department of Justice. These early roles helped him build a reputation in labor law, civil rights, and federal prosecution.
Alexander Acosta Career
Early Career (1994–2001)
Acosta began his legal career with a clerkship for Judge Samuel Alito and a position in private practice at Kirkland & Ellis. During this period, he developed expertise in labor and employment law while also teaching at George Mason University School of Law. His work on civil rights issues drew attention from Republican leaders in Washington.
By the end of the 1990s, Acosta had built a strong record in legal scholarship and policy work. This set the stage for his appointment to senior roles in the George W. Bush administration, where he would take on some of the most sensitive legal positions in the federal government.
George W. Bush Administration (2001–2005)
Acosta served in four presidentially appointed, U.S. Senate-confirmed positions during the George W. Bush administration. From December 2001 to December 2002, he served as Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. From December 2002 to August 2003, he served as a member of the National Labor Relations Board, participating in or authoring more than 125 opinions.
On August 22, 2003, Acosta became Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, becoming the first Hispanic to hold that position. He was known for increasing federal prosecutions against human trafficking, authorized federal intervention in an Oklahoma religious liberties case to help assure the right to wear hijab in public school, and worked with Mississippi authorities to reopen the investigation of the 1955 murder of Emmett Till. A later inspector general report concluded that Acosta did not sufficiently supervise his predecessor, Bradley Schlozman, regarding improper hiring practices.
U.S. Attorney for Southern District of Florida (2005–2009)
In 2005, Acosta was appointed United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. His office successfully prosecuted lobbyist Jack Abramoff, terrorism suspect José Padilla, the founders of the Cali Cartel, and Charles McArther Emmanuel, the son of Liberia’s former leader. The district also targeted white-collar crime, securing a $780 million settlement with Swiss bank UBS, which for the first time provided the United States with the names of individuals using secret Swiss bank accounts to avoid federal income taxes.
Acosta also led major corruption cases, including the prosecutions of Palm Beach County Commission chairman Tony Masilotti, commissioners Warren Newell and Mary McCarty, and Broward sheriff Ken Jenne. His office secured the conviction of Cali Cartel founders Miguel and Gilberto Rodríguez Orejuela, resulting in a $2.1 billion forfeiture. Acosta emphasized health care fraud prosecutions, with his district prosecuting more than 700 individuals responsible for more than $2 billion in Medicare fraud.
During his tenure, Acosta’s office negotiated a 2007–08 non-prosecution agreement with financier Jeffrey Epstein, granting immunity from federal criminal charges. The agreement drew renewed scrutiny in 2019 after Epstein’s arrest in New York on federal sex trafficking charges and contributed to Acosta’s later resignation as Labor Secretary.
Law School Dean and Bank Chairman (2009–2017)
On July 1, 2009, Alexander Acosta became the second dean of Florida International University College of Law. He spearheaded the creation of the Master of Studies in Law in banking compliance, Bank Secrecy Act, and anti-money-laundering at FIU Law. His work at the law school focused on expanding access to legal education in South Florida.
On December 31, 2013, Acosta became chairman of U.S. Century Bank, the largest domestically owned Hispanic community bank in Florida. During his tenure, U.S. Century Bank recorded its first year-end profit since the start of the Great Recession, marking a significant turnaround for the institution.
Secretary of Labor Era (2017–2019)
President Donald Trump nominated Acosta to be Secretary of Labor on February 16, 2017, after the withdrawal of Andrew Puzder’s nomination. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee held confirmation hearings on March 22, 2017, and Acosta was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on April 27, 2017, in a 60–38 vote. He was sworn in by Vice President Mike Pence the following day.
As Secretary of Labor, Acosta chaired the Task Force on Apprenticeship Expansion following President Trump’s Executive Order 13801, signed on June 15, 2017. The task force held five public meetings and issued its final report on May 10, 2018. The Trump administration announced a goal of one million new apprentices during Acosta’s tenure.
Acosta’s time as Labor Secretary ended in July 2019, following renewed criticism over his handling of the Epstein case. He resigned effective July 19, 2019, after bipartisan calls for his departure. President Trump publicly praised Acosta, calling him a “great, great secretary.”
Notable Events and Milestones
Acosta’s career includes landmark prosecutions, such as the conviction of Cali Cartel founders and the $780 million UBS settlement, the largest tax-evasion case in U.S. history at the time. He was the first Hispanic to serve as Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. His tenure as Secretary of Labor ended in resignation following intense scrutiny of the Epstein non-prosecution agreement.
Alexander Acosta Later Career
After leaving public office, Acosta returned to the private sector. Since March 2025, he has served on the board of directors of Newsmax, a cable company based in Boca Raton, Florida, where he chairs the Audit Committee. He also chairs the board of the State Leadership Initiative, a U.S.-based nonprofit that builds coalitions in Republican-led states to advance governance reforms focused on economic dynamism and institutional strength. In August 2025, the House Oversight Committee issued a subpoena for Acosta’s testimony in the Epstein case, and he testified before the committee on September 19, 2025.
Alexander Acosta Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Acosta was born in Miami, Florida, to Cuban immigrants and grew up in the city. He was the first member of his family to graduate from university, marking a significant milestone for his family. He is married to Jan Williams. Acosta’s Cuban heritage and Miami upbringing shaped his early interest in public service and law.
Alexander Acosta Recognition
Acosta has twice been named one of the nation’s 50 most influential Hispanics by Hispanic Business Magazine. He has served on several state commissions, including the Florida Innocence Commission, the Florida Supreme Court’s Commission on Professionalism, the Florida Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Commission, and the Commission for Hispanic Rights and Responsibilities.