The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its latest employment numbers on Friday, showing a disappointing 73,000 jobs added in July, below expectations. The previous reports from May and June were also revised downward, indicating 258,000 fewer jobs than initially thought.
President Trump fired BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer, deeming her an “untrustworthy Biden appointee” who allegedly manipulated the numbers to help Biden. He accused her of “faking” the job numbers and “rigging” them against Republicans.
The move has raised concerns about potential politicization of economic data, a trend often seen in authoritarian regimes or economic basket cases. However, experts argue that Trump’s attempt to fake data may be difficult given the procedures in place.
Experts warn that attempting to cover up the US economy’s state will fail due to multiple economic statistics collected by various entities. The move is part of Trump’s push to politicize every aspect of the federal government.
As a result, BLS officials might feel pressured to adjust numbers to suit Trump’s preferences, raising concerns about data integrity and potential manipulation in the future.
Source: https://www.vox.com/politics/422144/trump-jobs-economy-bls-fired