Donald Trump fired BLS commissioner Erika McEntarfer following an unfavorable jobs report, leading to widespread criticism and concern among economists and experts. The role of the commissioner is largely limited to editing reports after the data has been collected, indicating that McEntarfer had no direct involvement in the numbers presented. Studies indicate that the BLS's accuracy in job estimates has improved significantly over the past decades. The integrity and devotion of BLS employees are emphasized, as well as fears that political attacks could weaken trust in the data they produce.
There's no way for that to happen. The commissioner doesn't do anything to collect the numbers. The commissioner doesn't see the numbers for - until Wednesday before they're published. By the time the commissioner sees the numbers, they're all prepared. They're locked into the computer system.
Studies show that BLS is doing a better job now than they did 20 years ago, 20 and 30 years ago, in estimating the first number [they release in the jobs report].
They are some of the most loyal Americans you can imagine. They have worked in every kind of political circumstance. They are completely devoted to producing the very best gold-standard data possible.
I do believe, though, that the president's attack on the commissioner and on the bureau is undermining that infrastructure, could undermine that trust over the long term.
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