White House Adviser Defends Firing of BLS Chief Amid Data Reliability Concerns

White House economic advisor Kevin Hassett argued that dismissing Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) director Erika McEntarfer due to disappointing employment data would not compromise the integrity of future reports. During a Sunday interview on Fox News, host Shannon Bream highlighted criticism from former BLS commissioners, who condemned Trump's decision to remove McEntarfer. She explained that such actions could undermine public trust, as the methodology behind the data remains consistent. Hassett responded by emphasizing the importance of accurate data, noting recent concerns about the reliability of BLS figures, which have experienced significant revisions comparable to those during the COVID-19 pandemic. He stated that restoring confidence in these numbers is essential and supported the president's call for new leadership. He reiterated that data should serve as a trustworthy foundation for economic decisions, such as investment and interest rate policies. Hassett warned that declining data reliability could pose serious challenges for the U.S. economy, especially given recent large-scale revisions. For more details, watch the full interview on Fox News or follow the provid...