In a letter shared first with the Washington Examiner, Chairman Roger Williams (R-TX) applauds the incoming president for appointing Casey Mulligan as the Chief Counsel of the Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy, a position that serves as an “independent voice for small businesses within the federal government.”
“This position has been vacant for far too long, leaving the Office of Advocacy rudderless and small businesses without a voice,” Williams wrote in the letter.
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Mulligan served as the chief economist for Trump’s Council of Economic Advisors in his first administration. His nomination was sent to the Senate on Wednesday, but Trump announced his appointment on Jan. 11.
“Casey is a fantastic Economist from the University of Chicago, and a highly respected expert on the regulations that are crushing our Small Businesses,” Trump said in a statement. “During my First Term, Casey was the Chief Economist of my Council of Economic Advisers where he helped craft the Economic policies that gave us the best Economy in American History.”
“Casey will work with Kelly Loeffler, our Great Nominee for SBA Administrator, to make sure that we slash regulations, and empower Small Businesses to thrive like never before,” Trump added.
The Office of Advocacy within the SBA was created by Congress in 1976. The office is led by the chief counsel, who is appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. The position has not been filled since Darryl DePriest left the position in January 2017. The agency has been operating without this position for the last eight years, with staff stepping in to take over the role in an acting capacity since 2017 when the last chief council left. Trump nominated David C. Tryon in 2018, but the nomination never went before the full Senate for a vote.
Despite multiple letters from Williams pleading for former President Joe Biden to appoint a replacement to the position that operates as a watchdog for compliance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act, the position was never filled.
“During the 118th Congress, the Committee sent former President Biden two letters urging him to fill this position, yet he failed to nominate a candidate,” Williams said in the letter. “Further, the Committee’s Staff Report on the RFA found that Federal agencies repeatedly failed to comply with the RFA’s requirements to the detriment of small businesses.”
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The Texas congressman said the appointment of Mulligan will allow the agency to “have a greater ability to reduce regulatory burdens on small businesses,” and will “reduce red tape and provide small businesses with a voice in the federal government.”
It is unclear when Mulligan’s nomination will be considered by the Senate, but is likely to occur shortly after Loeffler is confirmed as SBA administrator, according to congressional aides.
