Trump Fired the Head of the Statistical Bureau Over Employment Data

• Trump fired the head of the BLS after negative data on employment.
• Former officials warn about the risks of politicizing statistics.
• Trump's economic advisers are seeking a nonpartisan candidate for the position of BLS chief.

President Donald Trump fired the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Erika McEntarfer after weak employment data for July, which prompted criticism regarding the economic downturn. Trump accused her of providing "fake" numbers for political reasons, which led to backlash from economists and former officials.

Erika Groshen, former BLS commissioner, indicated that a new team would be needed to change data collection methods, which could lead to a disruption among employees. She believes that McEntarfer's firing is detrimental to the integrity of the U.S. statistical system.

Trump is attempting to shift the narrative, asserting that necessary reforms for improving data collection are needed, but his economic advisers suggest that the new commissioner must appear nonpartisan to maintain trust in the statistics.

Along with the data, nearly 40 career BLS employees have access to raw data, which facilitates manipulation of results. Additionally, Trump plans to announce a new commissioner, but his appointment must undergo a confirmation process in the Senate.

Some Republicans, including Senators Rand Paul and Tom Tillis, expressed concern over McEntarfer's firing, highlighting the need to preserve the independence of the BLS. Trump also announced plans for a new census that would exclude illegal immigrants, which deviates from tradition.

Tags: USA/Politics