Trump fires labor statistic chief...

[KDK13]

The headline “Trump Fires Labor Statistics Chief” is more than a routine bureaucratic shake-up, it is an overreach of power that borders on illegality. Firing the head of a nonpartisan statistical agency without clear, justified cause not only undermines the integrity of labor data, but also raises serious legal and ethical red flags. These agencies are meant to function independently, free from political interference. When a president removes such an official, it suggests a deliberate attempt to manipulate public perception by silencing inconvenient truths.
Beyond the abuse of power, there are real financial consequences for taxpayers. An unjust termination opens the door to costly legal challenges, severance payouts, and potential compensation packages, all at the expense of the public. This reckless move could cost Americans both in trust and in dollars. Trumps firings can cost millions per case in compensation and legal challenges.

It is even worse, and it is already causing a stir at work. I know our finance people (and almost any investor/company, btw) rely upon these US numbers amongst other data to help the ceo/cfo etc do long term planning. Thus if those numbers are no longer trustworthy ...God help us.
BTW I double checked Trump's claim that she "inflated the job numbers to help Biden". She actually adjusted him downward by 800k in August 2024, right before the election. Likely not a good time to do it if she was biased for Biden, as she could have waited til November. So Trump's claim is bunk.

 

[jalimon]

It is even worse, and it is already causing a stir at work. I know our finance people (and almost any investor/company, btw) rely upon these US numbers amongst other data to help the ceo/cfo etc do long term planning. Thus if those numbers are no longer trustworthy ...God help us.
BTW I double checked Trump's claim that she "inflated the job numbers to help Biden". She actually adjusted him downward by 800k in August 2024, right before the election. Likely not a good time to do it if she was biased for Biden, as she could have waited til November. So Trump's claim is bunk.

The tariff fucked the economy. People working in finance all know that. But that's ok because they are ahead of the game. They can work around and make decisions. They know. They know based on their quantitative finance model. This helps them make financial decisions for themselves, but mostly for others.

But if they don't trust the raw data anymore, their model are fucked. They will hold back. The economy will go to shit. And the dumb maga will blame them.

 

[squeezer]

But if they don't trust the raw data anymore, their model are fucked. They will hold back. The economy will go to shit. And the dumb maga will blame them.

Jali, I am very disappointed in you. You should know better. Trump is the best statistician ever, and what he says goes, just ask KD, he knows.

 

[Shaquille Oatmeal]

Trump is the best statistician ever...

He is also an expert meteorologist. lmfao.

 

[Frankfooter]

Revising numbers aren't unprecedented. Revising numbers for multiple months by this much is. Now she's saying its going to happen for a 3rd month in a row (July). Sorry this is incompetence unless there is a plausible explanation as to why the numbers have been so off.

Likely they made projections that were based on the POTUS not totally screwing up the entire economy with random tariff announcements, killing off most tourism and stopping all new investments.

 

[WyattEarp]

....Or that he can breathe under water.

That seems a bit moot when he can just walk on water.

 

[WyattEarp]

It is even worse, and it is already causing a stir at work. I know our finance people (and almost any investor/company, btw) rely upon these US numbers amongst other data to help the ceo/cfo etc do long term planning. Thus if those numbers are no longer trustworthy ...God help us.
BTW I double checked Trump's claim that she "inflated the job numbers to help Biden". She actually adjusted him downward by 800k in August 2024, right before the election. Likely not a good time to do it if she was biased for Biden, as she could have waited til November. So Trump's claim is bunk.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has not been accurate with jobs data since COVID. We can both speculate as to the reasons why, but the point stands the jobs data haven't been accurate. Clearly if you have major revisions, the Fed can't do its job in calibrating interest rates and money supply particularly at inflection points in the economy.

You brought up the 2024 revision. A long backward revisions suggests the BLS was somewhat flying by the seat of their pants. If you are truly in a business where you use U.S. jobs data, you would have found the 2024 revision irksome. I'm around this industry and everyone regardless of politics was saying that the 2024 revision was fucked up. (This is where you have to separate American media messaging from the practical reality on the ground.)

 

[Shaquille Oatmeal]

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has not been accurate with jobs data since COVID.

You've stated that as fact. Okay.

We can both speculate as to the reasons why,

So you don't know, you are shooting from the hip and that immediately negates your assertion above.

 

[WyattEarp]

You've stated that as fact. Okay.

So you don't know, you are shooting from the hip and that immediately negates your assertion above.

Shaq don't try to quibble.

FACT: We have had major revisions in the jobs data the past few years. In some instances, the revisions came several months later.

I didn't give you any reasons because it is irrelevant to the fact above.

 

[WyattEarp]

How can anyone trust any numbers coming out of the government after that? All data will be questionable. I know that at one time in my life, I would have said, 'Hey, the boss wants these numbers; let's give them to him.' I am not losing my job over this. And I know a shit load of other people are just like me.

I'm pretty sure you don't understand the importance of accurate and timely jobs data for the Federal Reserve and the economy. You're too focused on the politics and your consumable media of choice.

We are at an inflection point in the U.S. where our economy is slowing. No matter what you are hearing or what you want to believe, the Federal Reserve has been keeping interest rates high to constrict the economy. There have been heated debates regarding the Fed's decision to not lower rates. (Perhaps you heard about this.) Two Fed Governors openly dissented with Powell and the rest of the Board. This hasn't happened in over thirty years.

Now if the BLS was producing more accurate numbers the past few months, we might have had those interest rate cuts much sooner. But lets go further and explain how this impacts Canada. The Bank of Canada held rates partially because the Fed has held rates. A unilateral rate cut tends to weaken a currency especially given recent weakness.

Here's a good read for anyone interested in what is going on beyond the politics.

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/01/fed-governors-bowman-waller-explain-their-dissents-say-waiting-to-cut-rates-threatens-economy.html

 

[jalimon]

I'm pretty sure you don't understand the importance of accurate and timely jobs data for the Federal Reserve and the economy. You're too focused on the politics and your consumable media of choice.

We are at an inflection point in the U.S. where our economy is slowing. No matter what you are hearing or what you want to believe, the Federal Reserve has been keeping interest rates high to constrict the economy. There have been heated debates regarding the Fed's decision to not lower rates. (Perhaps you heard about this.) Two Fed Governors openly dissented with Powell and the rest of the Board. This hasn't happened in over thirty years.

Now if the BLS was producing more accurate numbers the past few months, we might have had those interest rate cuts much sooner. But lets go further and explain how this impacts Canada. The Bank of Canada held rates partially because the Fed has held rates. A unilateral rate cut tends to weaken a currency especially given recent weakness.

Here's a good read for anyone interested in what is going on beyond the politics.

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/01/fed-governors-bowman-waller-explain-their-dissents-say-waiting-to-cut-rates-threatens-economy.html

The BLS has been producing the same fucking number as with the past potus. This ptus just did not like the numbers, and he fired the chief to have numbers he likes in the future. End of the fucking story.

 

[WyattEarp]

The most important thing to understand is that BLS is not directly estimating the number of jobs gained or lost each month. Rather, they are estimating the total number of employees (payroll positions) each month. The job growth/loss numbers are the just the difference between the monthly total estimates.

Between this release for July 2025 and the June 2025 release last month

The estimate for the total number of employees in May fell from 159,577,000 to 159,452,000.

The estimated number of employees in June fell from 159,724,000 to 159,466,000.

Those are revisions of -0.08% for May and -0.16% for June.

The problem with the growth/loss estimates is that even good growth is just a tiny fraction of the total number of jobs. For example, 300,000 jobs is just 0.18% of 159.5 million jobs. It doesn't take a large revision to the total number of jobs to make a huge change in the number of jobs added or lost.

I agree with your post. I actually don't think there is anything nefarious going on within the BLS. Perhaps inputs that worked in the past are no longer effective in providing timely information. The 2024 revisions were large and very delayed.

However, I think you would agree that at the point the Fed Board is in debates amongst themselves to lower rates the jobs data takes on an incredible amount of importance.

 

[WyattEarp]

The BLS has been producing the same fucking number as with the past potus. This ptus just did not like the numbers, and he fired the chief to have numbers he likes in the future. End of the fucking story.

No Jali, the BLS has lost its ability to provide timely and accurate info. This was clearly evident last year with the 800,000 jobs revision.

Of course, the President is unhappy. Sure there are political considerations. If you stand back and take away all the U.S. political noise, the Bank of Canada also needs the Federal Reserve to have timely and accurate jobs data. It's all tied together and much bigger that the Trumpsphere.

 

[dirtydaveiii]

It is even worse, and it is already causing a stir at work. I know our finance people (and almost any investor/company, btw) rely upon these US numbers amongst other data to help the ceo/cfo etc do long term planning. Thus if those numbers are no longer trustworthy ...God help us.
BTW I double checked Trump's claim that she "inflated the job numbers to help Biden". She actually adjusted him downward by 800k in August 2024, right before the election. Likely not a good time to do it if she was biased for Biden, as she could have waited til November. So Trump's claim is bunk.

Wait, you mean Trump LIED ??? NO WAY

 

[dirtydaveiii]

Umm ya that's

No Jali, the BLS has lost its ability to provide timely and accurate info. This was clearly evident last year with the 800,000 jobs revision.

Of course, the President is unhappy. Sure there are political considerations. If you stand back and take away all the U.S. political noise, the Bank of Canada also needs the Federal Reserve to have timely and accurate jobs data. It's all tied together and much bigger that the Trumpsphere.

Um ya, that's exactly why the wacko TACO
fired them, because he is all about getting things out in a timely manner like his tax returns and Trump pedo-files that's the ticket

 

[dirtydaveiii]

Wow your a B

I'm pretty sure you don't understand the importance of accurate and timely jobs data for the Federal Reserve and the economy. You're too focused on the politics and your consumable media of choice.

We are at an inflection point in the U.S. where our economy is slowing. No matter what you are hearing or what you want to believe, the Federal Reserve has been keeping interest rates high to constrict the economy. There have been heated debates regarding the Fed's decision to not lower rates. (Perhaps you heard about this.) Two Fed Governors openly dissented with Powell and the rest of the Board. This hasn't happened in over thirty years.

Now if the BLS was producing more accurate numbers the past few months, we might have had those interest rate cuts much sooner. But lets go further and explain how this impacts Canada. The Bank of Canada held rates partially because the Fed has held rates. A unilateral rate cut tends to weaken a currency especially given recent weakness.

Here's a good read for anyone interested in what is going on beyond the politics.

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/01/fed-governors-bowman-waller-explain-their-dissents-say-waiting-to-cut-rates-threatens-economy.html

Wow, you sound like a BLS expert. Most of us on here love bls. I am sure you will make a fine career at it

 

[WyattEarp]

Wow your a B

Wow, you sound like a BLS expert. Most of us on here love bls. I am sure you will make a fine career at it

I just stated the recent poor history of the BLS. I even had someone here try to contradict and criticize my recounting of the factual events.

Many of us knew things weren't going well under Trudeau for quite some time. Then he stepped down.
I can see how you might confuse astute observers as experts.

 

[Frankfooter]

Shaq don't try to quibble.

FACT: We have had major revisions in the jobs data the past few years. In some instances, the revisions came several months later.

I didn't give you any reasons because it is irrelevant to the fact above.

Projections were corrected with real numbers as the economy changed in unexpected ways.
Like daily random tariffs, losing most tourists and screwing american businesses.

The point is that the projections are not necessarily accurate but the counted numbers in the revision are accurate.
No bourbon in most of Canada

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1951901708067500391

 

[Valcazar]

How can anyone trust any numbers coming out of the government after that? All data will be questionable. I know that at one time in my life, I would have said, 'Hey, the boss wants these numbers; let's give them to him.' I am not losing my job over this. And I know a shit load of other people are just like me.

This is a much bigger deal than a lot of people seem to be acknowledging.

 

[Valcazar]

Maybe their next election will work thr same way. Fire the officials and let Trump do the estimating

There is a reason the GOP is fucking with election boards in so many places.