Trump Administration Defends Bureau of Labor Statistics Head Dismissal Amid Census Controversy

The U.S. Treasury Secretary has defended President Donald Trump's decision to dismiss the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, asserting that the agency was in dire need of reform. The Secretary emphasized that the Bureau had been poorly managed and that the changes were essential to guarantee the accuracy and reliability of the data it produces. This action is part of a broader initiative by the Trump administration to overhaul various government agencies and enhance their efficiency.

The dismissal of the Bureau's head has sparked debate, with critics suggesting that the move was politically motivated and intended to manipulate economic data to benefit the administration. However, the Treasury Secretary insisted that the decision was based on a comprehensive evaluation of the Bureau's performance and was in the best interest of the American people.

The controversy surrounding the Bureau of Labor Statistics arises at a time when the Trump administration is also advocating for a new round of census data collection that excludes undocumented immigrants. The President has instructed the Department of Commerce to conduct a highly accurate census, utilizing data from the 2024 presidential election. This move is anticipated to reshape federal spending and electoral maps, as census data is used to determine the allocation of congressional seats and federal funds.

The administration's push for a new census and the dismissal of the Bureau of Labor Statistics head are part of a broader effort to reshape government agencies and their data collection methods. The Treasury Secretary's defense of the dismissal underscores the administration's commitment to reforming government agencies and ensuring they operate efficiently and effectively. However, the controversy surrounding these moves highlights the political tensions and debates that continue to influence the administration's policies and decisions.

Economists have long pointed out that the Bureau of Labor Statistics' survey response rate has been lower than in previous years, affecting the magnitude of subsequent revisions. The Treasury Secretary stated that if employers do not provide sufficient responses, the Bureau of Labor Statistics is responsible for finding new data collection methods. "This feels very lazy — doing things the old way and expecting different results," the Secretary said. He added that the successor to the dismissed head "will be a highly professional statistician or labor economist and will not make such serious errors."

The Treasury Secretary also noted that when the Federal Reserve decided not to lower interest rates in July, the employment situation changed just two days later, indicating a problem. "Either the Federal Reserve's economists did not see the data that the Bureau of Labor Statistics had, or the data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics was problematic," the Secretary said. The Treasury Secretary also mentioned that he had informed the President two days prior that he preferred to remain in his current position rather than compete for the role of Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's successor.

"I will assist him in advancing the selection process," the Secretary said. "We have many excellent candidates, and the interview process has begun." Regarding trade issues, the Secretary stated that the government's series of agreements "are basically complete." He reiterated previous estimates that tariff revenue this year could reach 300 billion dollars, and "it is possible to be higher in 2026."