The Administration fired BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer after the release of economic data showing a slowdown in job growth, potentially signaling a weakening economy. The White House defended the decision on claims the data was manipulated for political purposes, but as Republican Senator Cynthia Lummis bluntly stated, “The statistics are what they are… It’s not the statistician’s fault if the numbers are accurate and that they’re not what the president had hoped for.”

Independent statistical agencies like the BLS collect and publish economic information that directly impacts American consumers and workers by informing federal and state policymakers and guiding business decisions in hiring and investment. Politicizing statistical data means that consumers, businesses, and the government cannot trust the data. This will distort economic policy decisions, misguide private-sector planning, and ultimately harm everyday Americans.