Contact Amanda Farnan Press Secretary (774) 571–3639 afarnan@ourpublicservice.org Labor Secretary Acosta resigns amid criticism of Jeffrey Epstein plea deal July 23, 2019 Acosta’s departure, which takes effect next week, means acting secretaries will head four major federal departments. He is the 11th Cabinet official to quit or be forced out, several under ethical or legal clouds, since President Trump took office.