Erica Groshen, former commissioner of the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, expressed disappointment over the disbanding of the Federal Economic Statistics Advisory Committee (FESAC) by the Trump administration. This committee, consisting of experts, provided crucial independent advice to improve economic data quality. Groshen argued that its elimination signals an intent to diminish government transparency. Moreover, there are concerns about potential manipulation of federal budget data to obscure the impacts of proposed tax cuts and budget reductions, risking economic credibility during a recession threat.
'It's so important to have these high-level advisory committees because statistical agencies have to be continuously improving, which means getting expert advice and information from outside of government.'
'Disbanding the advisory committee will deprive the public of an independent, nonpartisan brain trust whose goal was to help the government improve statistical accuracy in response to new technologies and ever-changing economic conditions.'
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