Larson Warns Trump Furloughs Could Delay Social Security COLA

East Hartford, CT – Today, House Social Security Subcommittee Ranking Member John B. Larson (CT-01) warned Americans that excessive staff furloughs at the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) during the Republican shutdown could delay the annual Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA).  

“After Donald Trump shut down the government, he left only one person working at the Bureau of Labor Statistics – the agency whose data will determine next year’s Social Security cost-of-living adjustment,” said Larson. “That’s no coincidence. This president tried to meddle with their data before when he got a weak jobs report, and now his ego-driven BLS takeover could leave our nation’s seniors guessing what their future benefits will be. During this cost-of-living crisis, Americans on Social Security can’t afford a delayed COLA. Millions of seniors rely on their earned benefits to pay rent, heat their homes, and put food on the table. I guess some rich kid from New York wouldn’t understand that, but Americans know a con when they see one. Donald, it’s time for you and your Republican minions in Congress to re-open government, end your health care crisis, and get our agencies back to work for the people.” 

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