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June 3, 2025
Let’s dive in.
INTERVIEW: DHS’s Tricia McLaughlin talks Kristi Noem’s foreign travels, securing the border, and more: “Biden broke our legal immigration system”
Heard on the Hill
EDITORIAL: A merger that puts American workers first
EXCLUSIVE: "It wasn’t just an election — it was a reckoning": How Poland's Trump-backed candidate won the presidency
EXCLUSIVE: Congress wants Muslim Brotherhood listed as a terrorist organization, action on anti-Semitism: "'Free Palestine' has become the modern-day 'Heil Hitler'”
SCOOP: CPAC plans next steps following "bucket list" conference in Hungary
SCOOP: Inside the Kennedy Center's family-friendly King of Kings showing
K-STREET, 10,000 FEET: How corporations try and navigate the GOP's opposition to DEI policies
OPINIONATED: Rep. Bob Goodlatte on how Trump’s Patent Director can combat foreign influence and Misty Chally on the need for factory workers
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INTERVIEW: DHS’s Tricia McLaughlin talks Kristi Noem’s foreign travels, securing the border, and more: “Biden broke our legal immigration system”
by the Washington Reporter and Matthew Foldi
THE LOWDOWN:
After four years of chaos at the southern border, we are finally seeing a fix to the broken border left by President Joe Biden and his administration. This charge has been led by President Trump and his Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, as well as their crack teams making the gears turn.
DHS Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin spoke with the Washington Reporter about the work going on at the department, including the recent trips overseas to learn how other nations keep themselves safe.
The trip also provided Noem and DHS officials the opportunity to learn from other countries with McLaughlin telling the Reporter the “key takeaway” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized was “how imperative a physical barrier is.”
McLaughlin also bashed the Biden administration’s border policies, saying the “political scheme” of a parole program was “akin to saying you ‘solved violent crime’ by legalizing murder.”
As the first year of the second Trump administration continues forward, we have seen dramatic decreases in illegal immigration and the flow of deadly drugs like fentanyl into America.
After four years of chaos at the southern border, we are finally seeing a fix to the broken border left by President Joe Biden and his administration. This charge has been led by President Donald Trump and his Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, as well as their crack teams making the gears turn.
As the changes unfurl and America becomes more secure, one of Noem’s heaviest hitters, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin spoke with the Washington Reporter about the secretary’s recent overseas trips and their work to keep America safe.
McLaughlin told the Reporter that Noem “held bilateral meetings with world leaders in Rome, Italy, Manama, Bahrain, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, Israel and Rzeszow, Poland, to advance U.S. Homeland Security interests” and that President Donald Trump “specifically asked Secretary Noem to meet with Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu.”
“The Secretary and [the] Prime Minister had a candid conversation where the Secretary reiterated President Trump's desire to bring peace to the region and for Iran to never obtain or develop nuclear weapons,” McLaughlin said.
“And, of course, Secretary Noem offered, on behalf of President Trump and the people of the United States of America, condolences for the loss of Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky in the horrific terrorist attack that occurred two weeks ago in Washington, D.C.,” she continued.
McLaughlin said Poland was chosen for a visit because the nation’s “history is a testament to the human spirit’s refusal to be chained.”
“From the partitions of the 18th and 19th centuries, history teaches us that freedom is fragile,” she said. “Poland’s past — its partitions, its uprisings, its triumphs — reminds us that liberty must be defended in every generation. President Trump’s vision, like Poland’s, is one of strength, irreverence, and unapologetic patriotism.”
Heard on the Hill
DC’S NEXT TOP LOBBYIST: Don’t forget to nominate your friends, loved ones, respected coworkers, or that very influential lobbyist you heard of for the Washington Reporter’s list of the most influential advocates in our nation’s capital! To submit a nomination, please provide the nominee’s name, affiliation, and a brief explanation of why they deserve a spot. Submissions should be emailed to [email protected] with the subject line “NOMINATION FOR INFLUENTIAL ADVOCATE.” Please also include the nominee’s headshot.
OUT OF TOUCH: A House GOP chief for a member of the Ed and Workforce Committee lit into committee Democrats for not caring about anti-Semitism, even in the wake of multiple terrorist attacks on Jewish events across America. “Dems have been griping in committee that the issue doesn’t matter and it’s overblown,” the chief told the Reporter. “How fucking dense can they be!”
WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE: Matt Duss, a former Bernie Sanders foreign policy staffer, endorsed a deal with Iran — signaling further troubles for a deal that Iran’s terrorist leaders seem hell-bent on tanking.
TAKING A MICHI-GANDER: The Public Interest Legal Foundation (PILF) just released its Serve & Observe report documenting Election Day 2024 operations at polling places near Detroit. Their report “reveals myriad troubling trends that undermine the integrity, neutrality, and transparency of Michigan’s voting process,” per the group.
NICE TRY: The Kennedy Center is calling out reporting from the Washington Post for being “fake news.” The Post reported that the prestigious center’s subscribers tumbled from last year, but the reality is that “our subscribers haven’t even received mailed brochures yet and that’s where majority of tickets come,” a Kennedy Center insider told the Reporter.
SHAME ON YOU: The Washington Post made a separate full-blown admission of error following its publication of pro-Hamas propaganda. The Post “deleted” a post in which it cited Hamas terrorists to blame Israel for “open[ing] fire” on a crowd of Gazans. This event never happened. “Early versions fell short of Post standards of fairness and should not have been published in that form,” the Post wrote.
FASTER THAN A SPEEDING STORK: Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy’s work on Operation Stork Speed has flown under the radar. A recent op-ed [ [link removed] ] from Else Nutrition Inc’s Hamutal Cohen Yitzhak caught our eye, praising Kennedy for “ensur[ing] babies get the nutrition they need.”
HELP IS ON THE WAY: Americans for Prosperity (AFP) launched a multimillion dollar nationwide ad campaign as urging the Senate to make tax relief permanent; the latest campaign is part of AFP’s $20 million dollar national “Protect Prosperity” campaign.
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EDITORIAL: A merger that puts American workers first
by the Washington Reporter Editorial Board
In a business world often driven by cost-cutting and outsourcing, the proposed merger between Charter and Cox Communications represents a refreshing shift — and a commitment to American workers and quality domestic jobs.
The $34.5 billion telecommunications deal is a bold statement about the future of American labor in an age of offshoring. By choosing to prioritize U.S.-based employees, offering industry-leading pay and benefits, and investing in career development, the combination of Charter and Cox Communications would set the standard for workforce treatment and quality That’s not even to mention the deal bolsters the companies’ ability to compete against global giants like Alphabet, Amazon, and Meta for video viewership and advertising [ [link removed] ] sales, as well as AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile for mobile and internet services.
The merger of Charter and Cox represents a clear and intentional decision to bring jobs back home. As part of this agreement, all overseas customer service positions from Cox Communications would be ended and Charter’s commitment to 100 percent U.S.-based sales and customer service functions would be extended to Cox Communications. Additionally, all employees would earn at least $20 per hour — an industry-leading wage for entry-level positions.
More importantly, these roles would offer new employees access to some of the most comprehensive benefits packages available, including full medical, dental, and vision coverage, a robust 401(k) match, and paid time off for full and part-time workers. Even as many U.S. companies continue to prioritize cheap labor, enlisting overseas workers to handle customer service and technical support, Charter has made a deliberate move to onshore these jobs.
The company’s approach to training and advancement is focused on offering employees more opportunities, including within career progression. For example, Charter’s Broadband Field Technician apprenticeship allows participants to learn new skills, gain a transferable certification, and ultimately move up the career ladder and achieve the American Dream.
Career opportunities are just one facet of the benefits for American workers under the Charter-Cox merger: educational opportunities for workers open up under the agreement. Employees of the combined company would gain access to Charter’s tuition-free undergraduate degree programs as well as self-progression opportunities, which provide a clear pathway to promotions with standardized pay increases. This is the kind of investment in human capital that will have lasting positive effects on the U.S. economy, providing American workers with the tools and training they need to succeed in a rapidly changing job market.
“We've always believed that investing in customer service and satisfaction creates a virtuous cycle in our business,” Charter’s CEO Chris Winfrey said on a recent investor call. “Better customer service translates to fewer customer transactions. Fewer transactions produce higher customer satisfaction and lower churn. Lower churn reduces cost and increases penetration.”
“And lower costs give us the ability to offer better pricing, which works for customer acquisition, service, and satisfaction, and positions us for growth,” Winfrey said.
Cox, founded in 1898 and rooted in family values and community leadership, has always emphasized the importance of long-term investment in both its people and its communities. Meanwhile, Charter’s approach has proven that high-quality, full-time, U.S.-based jobs can still be the backbone of a successful business. This merger would build on the traditions of both companies, delivering new opportunities for American workers.
EXCLUSIVE: "It wasn’t just an election — it was a reckoning": How Poland's Trump-backed candidate won the presidency
by Matthew Foldi
THE LOWDOWN:
The odds were against Polish conservatives in the runup to Poland’s runoff election. Initial exit polls showed that the liberal candidate, Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, was poised to narrowly defeat the conservative Karol Nawrocki, who had scored backing from top Trump administration figures.
While Poland’s media was almost exclusively in the tank for Trzaskowski, newer outlets like TV Republika balanced the scales out for Nawrocki, even going so far as to host the first-ever Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) days before millions of Poles headed to the polls.
Due to the narrow nature of Nawrocki’s victory, many can claim their actions were decisive. However, the involvement of American conservatives in the final days of Poland’s election was undeniable and could have proved pivotal.
Matthew Tyrmand, a Polish-American journalist, explained that Nawrocki’s last-minute success had to do with both the failures of Poland’s liberal prime minister, Donald Tusk, as well as the broader failures that Poles are seeing from Western Europe.
WARSAW — The odds were against Polish conservatives in the runup to Poland’s runoff election. Initial exit polls showed that the liberal candidate, Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, was poised to narrowly defeat the conservative Karol Nawrocki, who had scored backing from top Trump administration figures.
Beyond just the exit polls, political gamblers were quite literally betting against Nawrocki. Polymarket showed him with a slim chance to win the election until after the polls closed when he surged to a near-lock.
While Poland’s media was almost exclusively in the tank for Trzaskowski, newer outlets like TV Republika balanced the scales out for Nawrocki, even going so far as to host the first-ever Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) days before millions of Poles headed to the polls.
Due to the narrow nature of Nawrocki’s victory, many can claim their actions were decisive. However, the involvement of American conservatives in the final days of Poland’s election was undeniable and could have proved pivotal.
Top Republicans on the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) wrote [ [link removed] ] to Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, about concerns regarding the European Union’s (EU) “selective enforcement” of its policies that they argued was, in essence, an in-kind contribution to Trzaskowski.
During CPAC, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem told the audience that President Donald Trump wants Nawrocki in office.
“Donald Trump is a strong leader for us, but you have an opportunity to have just as strong of a leader in Karol, if you make him the leader of this country,” Noem said. Weeks prior, Trump hosted the first-time Polish candidate for a much-coveted White House meeting.
Matthew Tyrmand, a Polish-American journalist, explained that Nawrocki’s last-minute success had to do with both the failures of Poland’s liberal prime minister, Donald Tusk, as well as the broader failures that Poles are seeing from Western Europe.
EXCLUSIVE: Congress wants Muslim Brotherhood listed as a terrorist organization, action on anti-Semitism: "'Free Palestine' has become the modern-day 'Heil Hitler'”
by Matthew Foldi
THE LOWDOWN:
Days after a terrorist attack in the streets of Washington, D.C. saw an anti-Semite murder two Israeli embassy staff, an illegal immigrant from Egypt who overstayed his visa was arrested for throwing Molotov cocktails at a group of Jews in Boulder, Colorado.
Both Jewish and non-Jewish lawmakers alike told the Washington Reporter that the attack is an outgrowth of the radical left’s coddling of pro-Hamas protesters in America.
Rep. Randy Fine, a newcomer to Congress and one of a handful of federally elected Jewish Republicans, added that “we need to classify groups like the Muslim Brotherhood, CAIR, and Students for Palestine and its allies for what they are: terrorist organizations.”
The horrors of the latest attack left many wondering what can be done to stop the terror attacks. As such, a bipartisan group of lawmakers just rolled out legislation they hope can help solve the problem.
Days after a terrorist attack in the streets of Washington, D.C. saw an anti-Semite murder two Israeli embassy staff, an illegal immigrant from Egypt who overstayed his visa was arrested for throwing Molotov cocktails at a group of Jews in Boulder, Colorado.
Now, following these acts of anti-Semitic terror, Congress wants action and to classify groups like the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations.
Both Jewish and non-Jewish lawmakers alike told the Washington Reporter that the attack is an outgrowth of the radical left’s coddling of pro-Hamas protesters in America.
“It’s time to call evil by its name: Palestinianism,” Rep. Randy Fine (R., Fla.), told the Reporter. “America must stop dancing around one of the clearest threats to our national security and our Judeo-Christian values.”
“Today, these Muslim terrorists are coming for our Jewish children. Next, they’ll come for our Christian grandchildren,” Fine warned.
Fine, a newcomer to Congress and one of a handful of federally elected Jewish Republicans, added that “we need to classify groups like the Muslim Brotherhood, CAIR, and Students for Palestine and its allies for what they are: terrorist organizations.”
“And any visitor to our country who associates with that should be immediately deported, along with any family members they brought along with them,” Fine declared. “What we saw in Boulder this weekend was a window into a radical culture that rejects American life and embraces hate.”
“‘Free Palestine’ has become the modern-day ‘Heil Hitler,’” he added.
Rep. Max Miller (R., Ohio), another Jewish lawmaker, told the Reporter that “this violence is the direct result of a relentless campaign to demonize Israel and the Jewish people.”
“These terrorists scream ‘free Palestine’ while attacking innocent people. They aren’t hiding the ball, they want to see people like me dead,” he said. “Those who want to give Hamas supporters an inch of support, this is what they want.”
“They want Jews to be hunted down,” Miller cautioned.
Others in Congress echoed to the Reporter that these “pro-terrorism protests and anti-Semitic behavior [are] erupting across our country.”
Rep. Mike Simpson (R., Idaho), a veteran House Republican, said. “Whether in the streets or on college campuses, this behavior should outrage all Americans. There must be consequences, and there must be accountability.”
SCOOP: CPAC plans next steps following "bucket list" conference in Hungary
by Matthew Foldi
THE LOWDOWN:
Fresh off of its historic Polish success, the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) continued its international tour with its latest CPAC in Hungary, taking over a convention center on the outskirts of Budapest.
Following the event, CPAC chairman Matt Schlapp told the Washington Reporter that, while his organization’s “priority is America, we think we can help fight in America and inspire pushback in other major capitals.”
Gladden Pippin, the president of the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs, told the Reporter that he’s seen the growth of conservatism spread across the Atlantic in recent years.
Perhaps no issue resonated with attendees more than did illegal immigration. Ellie Cohanim, a veteran of the Trump administration, told the Reporter that many European nations need to “reverse their suicidal immigration and open borders policies, which have allowed millions upon millions of migrants into Europe who seek to undermine the very fabric of European societies.”
BUDAPEST — Fresh off of its historic Polish success, the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) continued its international tour with its latest CPAC in Hungary, taking over a convention center on the outskirts of Budapest.
Conservatives from across the world gathered to assemble a global league of anti-globalists. Leaders from Hungary, America, Israel, Argentina, Poland, and beyond spoke about the need for countries to reclaim their sovereignty from Brussels.
Many speakers and attendees pointed to the leadership of both Presidents Donald Trump and Javier Milei as well as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as leaders they’d like their countries to emulate.
Following the event, CPAC chairman Matt Schlapp told the Washington Reporter that, while his organization’s “priority is America, we think we can help fight in America and inspire pushback in other major capitals.”
“I have great admiration for Prime Minister [Giorgia] Meloni,” Schlapp said when asked about where he’d like to bring CPAC next. “And of course my wife wants us to be organized in Spain. We could have a CPAC there in September.”
“We also will redouble our efforts around China in Asia, in the Western Hemisphere and we have our eyes on Africa to combat Christian persecution,” Schlapp continued. “We are also doing CPAC Iran in exile. We take our motto from Mother Cabrini: the money will follow the mission.”
Adrian Kubicki, one of the leading organizers behind this year's CPAC in Poland, told the Reporter that he was impressed by the “diverse lineup of speakers and great level of organization and professionalism of the CPAC Hungary team.” Looking to the future, Kubicki said that “CPAC Poland will work closely with our Hungarian colleagues to exchange experiences and knowledge. Ultimately we will build two strong and complementary European CPAC branches that will inspire other countries to join this wonderful and powerful movement.”
On the Hungarian side, Gladden Pippin, the president of the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs, told the Reporter that he’s seen the growth of conservatism spread across the Atlantic in recent years.
“After decades in which conservatives in America and Europe were separated, they’re now aligned on all the most important issues of the day, from migration to law and order and the need to forge a new conservative politics,” he said. “CPAC Hungary, as the first CPAC venture in Europe, highlights just this aspect.”
SCOOP: Inside the Kennedy Center's family-friendly King of Kings showing
by Matthew Foldi
THE LOWDOWN:
Over the weekend, the nation’s capital hosted multiple screenings of King of Kings, a new family-friendly movie about the life of Jesus Christ, at the Kennedy Center.
The demand for the screenings was so intense that the center doubled its show offerings, as was first reported by the Washington Reporter.
In addition to the screenings themselves, the Kennedy Center hosted a “prayer wall” in partnership with the Museum of the Bible, where attendees shared their prayers for America and posted them on a completely full wall.
Curtis Houck, who attended one of the screenings, told the Reporter that “as a band and orchestra geek growing up, more and more Americans deserve to be exposed to the life-changing world of the performing arts.”
Over the weekend, the nation’s capital hosted multiple screenings of King of Kings, a new family-friendly movie about the life of Jesus Christ, at the Kennedy Center.
The demand for the screenings was so intense that the center doubled its show offerings, as was first reported [ [link removed] ] by the Washington Reporter.
Families of all faiths attended the showings, with one attendee telling the Reporter that it was “so refreshing to attend an event at the Kennedy Center that proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus Christ and celebrated the shared Judeo-Christian values that built this country and continue to make it great.”
In addition to the screenings themselves, the Kennedy Center hosted a “prayer wall” in partnership with the Museum of the Bible, where attendees shared their prayers for America and posted them on a completely full wall.
The Museum of the Bible, for its part, told the Reporter that it enjoyed the partnership. “We are happy to support an event where families can experience powerful stories from the Bible at a historic venue like the Kennedy Center, right here in our home of Washington, DC,” it said.
K-STREET, 10,000 FEET:
How corporations try and navigate the GOP's opposition to DEI policies
by Matthew Foldi
THE LOWDOWN:
As corporate America grapples with whether and how much to embrace Pride Month, one corporation is taking an interesting strategy: warning investors about the financial risks of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives while simultaneously seeming to welcome them.
Constellation Brands Inc., one of the leading international producers of beer, wine, and spirits, including Modelo and Corona, warned its investors, as it is legally required to do, that there are financial risks to stockholders to the implementation of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategies.
However, Constellation seems to run afoul of its own warnings. The company recently announced the onboarding of a new chief human resources officer, Paula Erickson, who came to Constellation directly from a different beverage company that has no shortage of DEI policies of its own.
This hire comes on the heels of Constellation’s public retreat from its own DEI efforts, a move prompted by conservative activist Robby Starbuck’s March 2025 exposé on X, which criticized the company’s “woke” policies.
As corporate America grapples with whether and how much to embrace Pride Month, one corporation is taking an interesting strategy: warning investors about the financial risks of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives while simultaneously seeming to welcome them.
Constellation Brands Inc., one of the leading international producers of beer, wine, and spirits, including Modelo and Corona, warned [ [link removed] ] its investors, as it is legally required to do, that there are financial risks to stockholders to the implementation of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategies.
CSR infamously overlaps with and includes DEI initiatives. This warning is a sharp one amid the Republican Party’s federal government trifecta and no love lost for DEI policies, ideologies, and procedures.
However, Constellation seems to run afoul of its own warnings. The company recently announced [ [link removed] ] the onboarding of a new chief human resources officer, Paula Erickson, who came to Constellation directly from a different beverage company that has no shortage of DEI policies [ [link removed] ] of its own.
Erickson boasted on her LinkedIn profile about [ [link removed] ] how she “couldn't be more proud of our [team] as we embed diversity, equity and inclusion in everything we do.”
“To receive the Equality 100 Award for earning a 100 score in the @Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index for the third straight year is such an honor!” Erickson said.
In a second [ [link removed] ] LinkedIn post obtained by the Washington Reporter, Erickson reshared a post recognizing how her former employer earned a 100 percent score on [ [link removed] ]Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index for LGBTQ-inclusive workplace policies and practices, writing that she is “so proud of this great recognition.”
This hire comes on the heels of Constellation’s public retreat from its own DEI efforts, a move prompted by conservative activist Robby Starbuck’s March 2025 exposé [ [link removed] ] on X, which criticized the company’s “woke” policies.
Following this expose by Starbuck, Bloomberg reported [ [link removed] ] that “Constellation Brands Inc., the company behind Modelo Especial and Corona beer, is watering down its supplier diversity program and renaming its DEI team.”
Constellation did not respond to a request for comment.
OPINIONATED
Op-Ed: Rep. Bob Goodlatte: Trump’s Patent Director should combat foreign influence
By Rep. Bob Goodlatte
President Donald Trump is making progress on the promises he made during his campaign — taking on China, reducing government waste, and growing the American economy. Thus far, his cabinet-level appointments reflect these priorities.
In January, Secretary of State Marco Rubio took meaningful steps [ [link removed] ] to counter Chinese influence in America’s backyard. And Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has committed [ [link removed] ] to addressing China's abuse of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the agency responsible for examining patents that protect American inventors and drive economic growth.
President Trump has now nominated a USPTO Director, John Squires. The USPTO Director is instrumental in preventing foreign influence of our patent system, and it will therefore fall on Squires to continue advancing the America First agenda, upholding the patent standards that make U.S. intellectual property rights so valuable and minimizing undue influence from the growing foreign litigation investment industry, which is steadily sinking its teeth into American intellectual property.
The total pool of outside money funneling into patent litigation continues to expand. In 2024 more than 30 [ [link removed] ] percent of all new litigation investment capital was directed toward patent lawsuits. Litigation investment entities, including hedge funds and other similar groups — many of which are based abroad or funded from foreign sources — frequently bankroll lawsuits reliant on low-quality patents, which the USPTO issued in error. Foreign investors pour money into shell companies that scoop up questionable patents for the sole purpose of weaponizing them in litigation targeting American startups and manufacturers across industries, which invent new technologies, build and sell useful products, and generally create value in our economy.
Op-Ed: Misty Chally: Trump's manufacturing revival is laudable, but factories can’t run without workers
by Misty Chally
President Donald Trump’s laser-like focus on revitalizing American manufacturing is and should be applauded by the business community. Restoring America’s industrial strength is essential not only for economic growth but for national security, supply chain independence and job creation. But there’s an urgent reality we cannot afford to ignore: no matter how many factories built and jobs created, America cannot prosper without workers.
An August 2024 survey from the Cato Institute reveals a critical contradiction in public sentiment. While 80 percent of Americans agree the nation would benefit from more manufacturing jobs, only 25 percent believe they would personally be better off working in a factory. Incredibly, only 2 percent of Americans currently work in manufacturing, and interest among younger Americans is even lower — just 36 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds express any interest in such work. These numbers underscore a looming and dangerous gap between our ambitions and our reality.
The latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover survey finds that unfilled positions in U.S. manufacturing stand at 456,000 unfilled positions. That figure doesn’t even account for the broader labor shortages facing nearly every sector of the economy — from construction to retail to health care. As we set out to reindustrialize, the workforce challenge will only grow more acute.
One particularly troubling trend is the sharp decline in labor force participation among prime working-age men. As of January 2025, U.S. labor force participation among men has declined 18.7 percentage points from its high during World War II. Once the backbone of America’s industrial workforce, too many men are now sitting on the sidelines of the job market. Many are not actively seeking work at all — much less considering physically demanding factory jobs. If this trend continues, it will be nearly impossible to meet the labor needs of a resurgent manufacturing sector.

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