President-elect Donald Trump's transition team asking government agencies for information or to reveal lists of employees is against the law, Secretary of Labor Tom Perez said during an appearance on CBS Radio News.
"Those questions have no place in a transition. That is illegal," he added.
Last week, Trump team sent the State Department a memo seeking information on "gender-related staffing, programming, and funding."
The memo did not request names of employees who worked on those programs, but earlier in December, Trump's transition team did ask for names that worked on climate change issues at the Department of Energy.
Perez, a Democrat, said that he is not aware if his department has received any such "blanket questions" and asked: "Will dedicated career people be targeted because they were doing the right work?"
Trump has nominated fast food chain CEO Andy Puzder to take over as Labor secretary in his administration, while Perez has stated he is running for chairmanship of the Democratic National Committee.
The CBS News reports Perez would not run for governor of Maryland if he gains the chairmanship.
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