Media clips
-
Samantha Sanders, director of government affairs and advocacy at the Economic Policy Institute, said having a political actor in the inspector general role would be “a real shame.”
IGs of the past have probed the department’s ability to investigate child labor claims, unemployment insurance fraud during the Covid-19 pandemic, and the Mine Safety and Health Administration.
“It’s always good to be asking questions about whether things are being done appropriately, if funds are accounted for, or if programs are effective,” she said. “You need a strong IG for that and there’s certainly a concern that D’Esposito might be the president’s attack dog.”
Bloomberg Law October 21, 2025 -
“The fingerprints of Trump policy decisions are most clearly found in the distinct rise in federal [unemployment insurance] claims — claims filed specifically by workers laid off from federal agencies,” Elise Gould and Joe Fast of the Economic Policy Institute wrote last week. “However, we are also seeing troubling trends in UI claims in regular state programs, particularly in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.”
“The shutdown (and potentially the attempted politicization of key government data-collection agencies) could leave policymakers flying blind just as the economy encounters real turbulence,” they cautioned.
Truthout October 21, 2025 -
“Businesses don’t like (tariffs), but they can adjust to a reasonable tariff,” Hersh said. “(Trump has) created uncertainty for the economy that just has businesses sitting on their hands, not being able to make decisions about investment or to hire new workers.”
CNN.com October 21, 2025 -
October 21, 2025
-
Acknowledgments
Gallup acknowledges the invaluable contributions of the partners and stakeholders whose collaboration has been instrumental in the development of the study, resulting analysis and report, including Jobs for the Future, The Families & Workers Fund and the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research. We are also grateful for support from the Gates Foundation.
Research Taskforce
- Susan Houseman, Senior Economist, W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research
- Katharine G. Abraham, Distinguished University Professor of Economics, University of Maryland
- Chandra Childers, Senior Policy and Economic Analyst, Economic Policy Institute
Gallup News October 16, 2025 -
Not only do immigrants comprise a significant share of home care workers — immigrants make up 32% of the workers in home care, according to a KFF analysis released in April — but they also are driving growth across US economic sectors. The Economic Policy Institute, a nonpartisan think tank, published a report last week that found that the nation’s share of US-born workers will decrease between 2025 and 2035, while the share of foreign-born workers will increase.
“The CBO (Congressional Budget Office) forecasts that immigration will account for essentially 100% of total US population growth over this time span, and well over 100% of population growth after 2031,” the report said. “Given that 75% to 80% of immigration flows are people between the ages of 20 to 64, this means that the US-born population of those between the ages of 20 and 64 — the vast bulk of the potential labor force — is forecast to shrink every year for the next decade.”
McKnight’s Senior Living October 16, 2025 -
Heidi Shierholz, President of the Economic Policy Institute and former Chief Economist at the U.S. Department of Labor, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the erosion of worker protections under the Trump administration, the manipulation of economic data and the importance of unions in today’s economy.
Shierholz offered examples of Trump policies she described as “anti-worker,” including the removal of minimum wage increases for low-wage federal contract workers and the potential dismantling of the National Labor Relations Board. She highlighted how Trump’s pro-worker rhetoric contradicts his actions, which she said have consistently favored employers and shareholders over workers. Shierholz also clarified misconceptions about Trump’s proposed tax exemptions on overtime and tips, explaining that the benefits to workers are far less than advertised and could lead to lower base wages.
Union Workforce Podcast October 16, 2025 -
Acknowledgments
Gallup acknowledges the invaluable contributions of the partners and stakeholders whose collaboration has been instrumental in the development of the study, resulting analysis and report, including Jobs for the Future, The Families & Workers Fund and the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research. We are also grateful for support from the Gates Foundation.
Research Taskforce
- Susan Houseman, Senior Economist, W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research
- Katharine G. Abraham, Distinguished University Professor of Economics, University of Maryland
- Chandra Childers, Senior Policy and Economic Analyst, Economic Policy Institute
Gallup News October 16, 2025 -
Not only do immigrants comprise a significant share of home care workers — immigrants make up 32% of the workers in home care, according to a KFF analysis released in April — but they also are driving growth across US economic sectors. The Economic Policy Institute, a nonpartisan think tank, published a report last week that found that the nation’s share of US-born workers will decrease between 2025 and 2035, while the share of foreign-born workers will increase.
“The CBO (Congressional Budget Office) forecasts that immigration will account for essentially 100% of total US population growth over this time span, and well over 100% of population growth after 2031,” the report said. “Given that 75% to 80% of immigration flows are people between the ages of 20 to 64, this means that the US-born population of those between the ages of 20 and 64 — the vast bulk of the potential labor force — is forecast to shrink every year for the next decade.”
McKnight’s Senior Living October 16, 2025 -
Heidi Shierholz, President of the Economic Policy Institute and former Chief Economist at the U.S. Department of Labor, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the erosion of worker protections under the Trump administration, the manipulation of economic data and the importance of unions in today’s economy.
Shierholz offered examples of Trump policies she described as “anti-worker,” including the removal of minimum wage increases for low-wage federal contract workers and the potential dismantling of the National Labor Relations Board. She highlighted how Trump’s pro-worker rhetoric contradicts his actions, which she said have consistently favored employers and shareholders over workers. Shierholz also clarified misconceptions about Trump’s proposed tax exemptions on overtime and tips, explaining that the benefits to workers are far less than advertised and could lead to lower base wages.
Union Workforce Podcast October 16, 2025