Following Larson Warnings of Delayed COLA, Trump Administration Reverses Course on Excessive Furloughs at the Bureau of Labor Statistics

East Hartford, CT - Today, after Ranking Member Larson warned that excessive furloughsat BLS during the Republican shutdown could delay the annual Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA), the Trump Administration reversed course. House Social Security Subcommittee Ranking Member John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement:

"After Donald Trump shut down the government, he left only one person working at the agency whose data will determine next year's Social Security cost-of-living adjustment. Seniors struggling to make ends meet can't afford a delayed COLA. Wealthy New York real estate developers like Donald might not understand that, but families living paycheck to paycheck know what's at stake. I am glad to see the Administration reverse course after we warned beneficiaries what these excessive furloughs could mean - but as the saying goes, 'Trust everyone, but cut the cards.' This president tried to meddle with economic data after a weak jobs report earlier this year, and he could try to do it again. Democrats will be watching closely to make sure Donald Trump does not let his ego get in the way of the full COLA seniors deserve."

After his first attempt to meddle with labor data, Ranking Member Larson called out Trump's firing of the then-Commissioner of Labor Statisticsand his subsequent nomination of EJ Antoni, a Project 2025 contributor who called for Social Security to be shut down. His nomination was pulledafter public outcry.