"The former chief US economics data statistics who Donald Trump fired last month called her sudden removal dangerous and said Americans should be concerned about the independence of key economic institutions. Markets have to trust the data are not manipulated, said Erika McEntarfer, former head of the Bureau Labor of Statistics, on Tuesday in her first remarks since her firing. Firing your chief statisticians for releasing data you do not like, it has serious economic consequences."
"In August, the bureau revised down initial figures that showed steady job growth in May and June by 258,000. Hours after the release, Trump fired McEntarfer, claiming without evidence that the jobs numbers were RIGGED in order to make the Republicans, and ME, look bad. It was the first time a president had fired the head of the data bureau, and it left many economists shaken by what the future of the nonpartisan bureau could look like."
"Trump has since nominated EJ Antoni, chief economist at the conservative thinktank Heritage Foundation and a co-author of Project 2025, in addition to a vocal critic of BLS, as McEntarfer's replacement. Antoni has not yet been confirmed by Congress. William Wiatrowski, a longtime official within the bureau, is currently serving as acting commissioner. McEntarfer, speaking at Bard College, said that while she trusts Wiatrowski, she is concerned about the future of the bureau."
The firing of the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner followed a downward revision of job growth figures by 258,000 for May and June. The president alleged without evidence that the figures were rigged to make Republicans and himself look bad. The removal was unprecedented and has raised concerns about the independence and credibility of economic institutions. Lost trust in official statistics can lead to economic crises, higher inflation and higher borrowing costs, as seen in countries that undermined statistical independence. A conservative economist from a think tank has been nominated as commissioner, while a longtime official serves as acting commissioner.
#bureau-of-labor-statistics #economic-data-integrity #political-interference #labor-market-statistics
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