(Reuters] – St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank James Bullard demanded Friday that the Fed tighten monetary policies. This was in response to unexpectedly high inflation, strong growth and a labor force that’s tightening and ready to expand.

Bullard stated that “these considerations suggest the FOMC may want to consider eliminating accommodation at a quicker pace at future meetings,” he said. He was referring to Missouri Bankers Association’s Federal Open Market Committee, which determines U.S. Monetar policy.

These documents were created before the release of a November government report that showed a weaker-than-expected increase in jobs.

Bullard is one of the Fed’s most conservative policymakers. He urged the Fed to stop its bond-buying program early next year in order to allow the Fed to raise interest rates early next spring, should inflation rise. Friday’s comments took it a step farther.

He said that it is still too soon to determine the economic impact of COVID-19’s new Omicron version on the U.S. economy.

Fed policymakers are scheduled to meet next December 14-15. They will discuss ways they can accelerate the reduction in its bond-buying programme, currently set for termination by June 2019. Despite the cuts, the Fed will continue to actively ease its monetary policy by purchasing bonds. The interest rate remains near zero from March 2020.

Bullard stated that the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), should eliminate monetary policy flexibility due to this unexpected inflation shock and other pandemic risk factors.