Former BLS Commissioner Bill Beach on Trump's Firing of Successor Over Jobs Report

Criticism of Commissioner's Firing

• 🎯 William Beach, former Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), calls the firing of his successor "totally groundless".
• ⚠️ Beach warns that the firing destroys public trust in U.S. economic data and undermines the statistical system.
• 💡 He explains that the BLS commissioner has no direct role in collecting or manipulating data, only in editing text before publication.

Understanding Jobs Report Revisions

• 📊 The president was likely upset by revisions to May and June jobs numbers, which is a standard part of the survey process.
• 📌 The BLS survey relies on returns from about 600,000 businesses, and the agency keeps the door open for two months to incorporate more information, leading to revisions.
• 📈 Studies show BLS is more accurate now in its initial estimates than 20-30 years ago, despite subsequent revisions.

Historical Context of Revisions

• 🧐 Regarding a past claim about overstated March 2004 job growth, Beach notes the timing of revisions and states that revisions happen every year.
• ⚖️ He recalls a 500,000 job revision during Trump's first term, emphasizing that these adjustments are normal due to firms being created or going out of business.

Trust in BLS Data

• ✅ Beach expresses confidence in the dedication and integrity of BLS employees, calling them "completely devoted to producing the very best gold standard data possible."
• 🌍 He asserts that BLS is the "finest statistical agency in the entire world" and its numbers are trusted globally.
• 🗣️ However, he believes the president's attack on the commissioner and the bureau is undermining this infrastructure and could damage trust long-term.

Role of the BLS Commissioner

• 🏛️ Beach believes the position should remain a presidentially appointed, Senate-confirmed role.
• 🤝 This allows the commissioner to attend meetings with the Secretary of Labor or White House staff to understand priorities and direct the Bureau to produce relevant data, such as information on indigenous people or Pacific Islanders.