Trump’s firing of BLS head sparks concerns over integrity of US data

Top White House economic advisers on Sunday defended President Donald J. Trump's firing of the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), pushing back against criticism that Mr, Trump’s action could undermine confidence in official US economic data.

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US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told CBS that Mr. Trump had “real concerns” about the data, while Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council, said the president “is right to call for new leadership.”

Mr. Hassett said on Fox News the main concern was Friday’s BLS report of net downward revisions showing 258,000 fewer jobs had been created in May and June than previously reported.

Mr. Trump accused BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer of faking the jobs numbers, without providing any evidence of data manipulation. The BLS compiles the closely watched employment report as well as consumer and producer price data.

The BLS gave no reason for the revised data but noted “monthly revisions result from additional reports received from businesses and government agencies since the last published estimates and from the recalculation of seasonal factors.”

Ms. McEntarfer responded to her abrupt dismissal on Friday in a post on the Bluesky social media platform, saying it was “the honor of her life” to serve as BLS commissioner and praising the civil servants who work there.