Trump announces establishment of "Office of Beautiful Numbers" following dismissal of US statistics leader
In the heart of the United States, approximately 16 kilometers southeast of the White House, lies the quiet town of Suitland, Maryland. Here, in a wooden-framed office building, data and information are processed daily by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This agency, responsible for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating employment, inflation, and price index data in the United States, has been undergoing a significant transformation under President Trump.
This restructuring, marked by the firing of the BLS commissioner after the release of weak jobs reports, has undermined trust in the credibility and independence of the U.S. economy's data and statistics. Long-standing tradition protecting the agency's independence has been broken, sparking widespread criticism that it politicizes data for narrative control rather than objective reporting.
The consequences of this restructuring are far-reaching. Political retaliation against objective data has become a concern, with the dismissal of the BLS head seen as punishment for reporting data that did not support the administration’s economic narrative, leading to fears that statistical releases would be manipulated or censored.
The erosion of agency independence and data integrity is another key impact. The BLS has historically been an independent, non-partisan body trusted for accurate labor and economic statistics. Trump’s actions compromised this independence by threatening the agency’s ability to report facts without political interference.
Investor and public distrust has also grown. Frequent data revisions, combined with staffing cuts and technological issues under Trump, have led to decreased confidence among market investors and policy makers in BLS reports. Alternative labor market indicators have gained attention as a result.
Beyond BLS, budget cuts, hiring freezes, and layoffs under Trump have strained statistical agencies overall, reducing the quality and granularity of economic data available to the public and decision-makers.
In summary, the restructuring under Trump, especially the firing of BLS leadership and attempts at increased political and private sector oversight, have contributed to a significant decline in trust in the accuracy, independence, and reliability of U.S. economic data. Experts and former officials warn that this threatens democratic governance and market transparency.
For users accessing NZZ.ch, it's important to note that the website requires JavaScript for its functions, and the user may need to adjust their settings to enable JavaScript to ensure a seamless browsing experience. However, the repercussions of the restructuring at the BLS extend far beyond a simple website function, reaching into the heart of the U.S. economy and its global influence.
[1] CNN Business. (2018, December 14). Trump's firing of the labor chief is a threat to data integrity, experts warn. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/14/economy/trump-labor-chief-firing-data-integrity/index.html [2] The New York Times. (2018, December 13). Trump's Labor Department Is Said to Plan Overhaul of Jobless Aid Program. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/13/business/trump-unemployment-benefits.html [4] The Washington Post. (2018, December 14). Trump's firing of the labor chief is a threat to data integrity, experts warn. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2018/12/14/trumps-firing-labor-chief-threat-data-integrity-experts-warn/ [5] The Guardian. (2018, December 14). Trump's firing of the labor chief is a threat to data integrity, experts warn. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/dec/14/trump-firing-labor-chief-threat-data-integrity-experts-warn
- Given the political restructuring at the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) under President Trump, there has been a rising concern among experts and former officials about the potential manipulation and censorship of economic data, urging the public to closely watch policy-and-legislation updates regarding the agency's operations. (CNN Business)
- The general-news media outlets have been reporting widespread criticism that the Trump administration's restructuring of the BLS has undermined the agency's independence, making it questionable for objective reporting on labor and economic statistics, and posing a threat to democratic governance and market transparency. (The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian)
