The
National Association for Business Economics (NABE) strongly condemns
the removal of Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Commissioner Erika
McEntarfer and the unfounded accusations leveled against the work of the
agency. This unprecedented attack on the U.S. statistical system
threatens the long-standing credibility of our economic data
infrastructure. Business
leaders and policymakers depend on reliable, impartial economic data to
guide decisions that affect investment, employment, and the health of
the economy. The BLS produces these data using transparent, rigorously
documented, and scientifically sound methodologies. U.S. economic
statistics are regarded as the gold standard worldwide, setting the
benchmark for accuracy, transparency, and independence. Large
revisions to jobs numbers in recent years reflect not manipulation, but
rather the dwindling resources afforded to statistical
agencies—resources that are essential to timely, accurate measurement.
To cast doubt on the integrity of these processes for political reasons
risks doing lasting harm to the institutions that support American
economic stability. Commissioner
McEntarfer is a highly respected labor economist and a dedicated career
civil servant, having spent more than 20 years at the U.S. Census
Bureau before being appointed to lead the BLS. Her work has earned broad
bipartisan trust. Her removal threatens to erode public confidence in
the BLS and the broader federal statistical system, even as these
institutions continue to uphold the highest standards of integrity and
excellence. NABE
encourages Congress to review the circumstances surrounding the
dismissal of Commissioner McEntarfer, ensure that statistical agencies
are adequately resourced to produce timely and accurate data, and
consider steps to strengthen their independence and integrity. We also
urge elected officials, business leaders, and the broader policy
community to speak out in support of the BLS and the federal statistical
system. Preserving trust in these institutions is essential to sound
economic decision-making and long-term prosperity. For more information: www.nabe.com 202-463-6223 |