Page 28 of 32 President's Pick to Lead Labor Dept. Is Confirmed BYLINE: By MAYA SALAM SECTION: Section A; Column 0; National Desk; Pg. 14 LENGTH: 594 words R. Alexander Acosta, the dean of Florida International University College of Law and a former United States attorney, was confirmed as labor secretary by the Senate on Thursday. becoming the only Latino in President Trump's cabinet. We're excited to welcome Alexander Acosta to the DOL family as the 27th U.S. Labor Secretary. Follow @SecretaryAcosta for updates. pic.twittercom/M5jiegJd — US Labor Department (OUSDOL) April 27, 2017 The confirmation of Mr. Acosta, 48. completes Mr. Trump's cabinet and comes at a crucial moment for the president, as he nears the 100-day mark in office. In the 60-to-38 vote, eight Democrats and one independent voted in favor of Mr. Acosta. Mr. Acosta, who has been endorsed by a number of unions, including the Laborers International Union of North America, will be taking over a department that has been without a secretary for three months — pressing him to address some issues fairly quickly. Among them is an Obama-era rule that requires brokers to put the interests of clients who are saving for retirement above their own. Mr. Trump has requested the rule be reviewed and possibly unraveled. In interviews with The New York Times this year. several people who have worked with Mr. Acosta expressed mixed feelings of him as a colleague. Some said he was a passive leader, even using inaction to serve his interests. But others, including professors at Florida International University's law school, said Mr. Acosta was unbiased and did not let his political views color his professional decisions. Facing the Senate Health, Education. Labor and Pensions Committee in March. Mr. Acosta defended himself against Democrats who voiced concerns that he might allow conservative political ideologues to shape the department. He assured them that he would put the interest of workers first