Ranking Member Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today released the following statement after attending a Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee business meeting, where he voted no along with every Democratic committee member on advancing the nominations of William Briggs and Dr. Casey Mulligan, President Trump’s nominees to be Deputy Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) and Chief Counsel for Advocacy at the SBA, respectively, to the Senate floor.  

“While Trump, Musk, and their DOGE operatives hide under the cover of darkness – slashing jobs at the SBA, closing district offices, and cutting contracts – we can’t go on with business as usual. I have been demanding answers on DOGE’s activities, and I haven’t gotten them. We owe it to the American public to pull back the curtain on how the SBA is being run – and ensure that Main Street doesn’t turn into Pain Street. 

“I remain concerned that Dr. Mulligan will work to advance President Trump’s deregulation agenda, rather than be an independent voice for all small business. He wants to take us back to an economy with few worker, environmental, patient, or consumer protections. He’s questioned reasonable limits on pollution and rules that prevent insurers from discriminating against people with pre-existing conditions. He has also questioned the value of sick leave, opposed increases to the minimum wage, and blamed the 2008 financial crisis on healthcare subsidies and unemployment insurance, calling these benefits ‘trickle-down fraud.’ 

“We cannot let SBA stand for Supporting the Billionaire Agenda. I don’t believe that William Briggs and Dr. Casey Mulligan are up to the task.” 

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