President Trump dismissed Erika McEntarfer from her position as head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics after a report indicated fewer job additions than expected. Trump alleged, without evidence, that the reporting was manipulated to negatively portray him. Former commissioner William Beach stated that the commissioner does not influence job number collection or results, adding that the numbers are finalized well before the commissioner reviews them. An advocacy group for the Bureau urged Congress to look into the firing, stressing the need for investigations into the issues of data integrity.
Dean Baker describes Trump’s firing of the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner as a significant threat to the integrity of labor statistics. He expresses concern over the implications of politicizing such critical data.
Trump’s claim that recent job numbers were intentionally manipulated highlights a broader mistrust in statistical reporting, alleging past numbers were also rigged to favor political interests.
William Beach clarifies that the commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics does not control or manipulate job numbers, stating that the data is finalized before the commissioner receives it.
Friends of the Bureau of Labor Statistics released a statement urging Congress to investigate the circumstances surrounding the commissioner’s dismissal, emphasizing the importance of maintaining data integrity.
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