A central figure in the establishment of the U.S. Department of Labor was Frances Perkins, who served as the first Secretary of Labor from 1933 to 1945. She played a crucial role in shaping labor policies during the New Deal era, advocating for workers' rights and fair labor practices. Perkins was instrumental in implementing key legislation such as the Securities Act and the Social Security Act. Her efforts in addressing working conditions and promoting labor standards significantly transformed the relationship between the government and the workforce in America, leading to long-lasting changes in employment laws.