Doug Wissoker

August 1, 2025 AMERICAN ECONOMIC ASSOCIATION Committee on Economic Statistics and Committee on Government Relations Statement from the American Economic Association on the Dismissal of the BLS Commissioner Leaders of the American Economic Association express their grave concern over the dismissal of the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) earlier today. The independence of the federal statistical agencies is essential to the proper functioning of a modern economy. Accurate, timely, and impartial statistics are the foundation upon which households, businesses, and policymakers make critical decisions. Undermining the independence or credibility of these agencies threatens the integrity of the information that markets, institutions, and the public rely on every day. Measuring the vast and dynamic U.S. economy in real time is inherently challenging. It is standard practice for statistical estimates to be revised as more complete and higher-quality data become available. These revisions reflect the commitment of statistical agencies to accuracy, transparency, and methodological rigor-not failure or bias. The BLS has long had a well-deserved reputation for professional excellence and nonpartisan integrity. Safeguarding this tradition is vital for the continued health of the U.S. economy and public trust in our institutions. We call upon elected officials to respect and preserve the independence of the nation's statistical infrastructure. Lawrence Katz President, American Economic Association Katharine Abraham President-Elect, American Economic Association Karen Dynan Chair, American Economic Association Committee on Economic Statistics Kenneth Troske Chair, American Economic Association Committee on Government Relations

Statement from the largest economics association about the BLS firing

As context: AEA approximately never makes such public statements

This is a big deal

President Trump called into question the integrity of the Employment Situation report that the BLS released this morning. He accused BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer of deliberately reporting false numbers to reflect poorly on this administration. This baseless, damaging claim undermines the valuable work and dedication of BLS staff who produce the reports each month. This escalates the President’s unprecedented attacks on the independence and integrity of the federal statistical system. The President seeks to blame someone for unwelcome economic news. The Commissioner does not determine what the numbers are but simply reports on what the data show. The process of obtaining the numbers is decentralized by design to avoid opportunities for interference. The BLS uses the same proven, transparent, reliable process to produce estimates every month. Every month, BLS revises the prior two months’ employment estimates to reflect slower-arriving, more-accurate information. This rationale for firing Dr. McEntarfer is without merit and undermines the credibility of federal economic statistics that are a cornerstone of intelligent economic decision-making by businesses, families, and policymakers. U.S. official statistics are the gold standard globally. When leaders of other nations have politicized economic data, it has destroyed public trust in all official statistics and in government science. We call on Congress to respond immediately, to investigate the factors that led to Commissioner McEntarfer’s removal, to strongly urge the Commissioner’s continued service, and ensure that the nonpartisan integrity of the position is retained. The statement from the President undermines these tenets and politicizes data which cannot and should not be used for political points.

"...escalates the President’s unprecedented attacks on the independence & integrity of the federal statistical system.

"The president seeks to blame someone for unwelcome economic news.

"...firing Dr. McEntarfer is without merit & undermines the credibility of federal economic statistics..."

Obama on the starvation in Gaza…

Gaza is starving. Where are the American Jewish leaders? A fear of being labelled antisemitic still deters American Jews and Jewish institutions from taking a position that is morally correct.

forward.com/opinion/7575...

(My thoughts in the Forward about why anyone who cares about Israel or the Jewish people should be speaking out on Gaza)

Gaza is starving Palestinians seeking food are being killed by the IDF. It's time for the entire world to say enough.

Read my latest:

If only he had a way to vote in accordance with his stated beliefs!

RFK Jr. says US won’t donate to global vaccine effort Kennedy ripped into Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, in a video address at its pledging summit.

This is a travesty & a nightmare. The US was a founder of @gavi.org. It lowers global vaccine costs, has vaccinated 1B children, & averted 19M deaths. This pull out will cost 100s of thousands of children's lives a year - and RFK Jr will be personally responsible.
www.politico.com/news/2025/06...

Ok folks, we know work requirements reduce benefits without increasing work (cc: @chloeneast.bsky.social)

But who loses benefits and what happens if work requirements are reversed?

New evidence from linked SNAP-Medicaid data and a natural experiment in CT tell a concerning story...

Thread below 👇

The tragic landslide in Blatten gives me the excuse to tell you the story of how we found out Ice Ages existed. It's a cool story and the most important bit is rather similar to what's happening now.

Read National Academy of Sciences (NAS) members -- economist Chuck Manski, astrophysicist Ray Weyman, & climate scientist Ben Santer -- calling for NAS to more pro-actively defend & advance American science & American interests broadly.
#econsky
www.scientificamerican.com/article/stro...

Say. This.

Great turnout from Mom’s place.

The President of the United States fears only those who do not fear him.

Last thing. BLS does amazing work to create timely, accurate info about America's working families & employers, a huge public good.

They are there for us & we need to show up for them.

If you are a labor researcher or care about employment, follow & join Friends of BLS.
www.friendsofbls.org/join

NSDUH is one of the only ways we can track trends in substance use in the US. NSDUH is one of the only ways we can track adolescent mental health problems in the US.

We cannot afford to fly blind on these critical issues.

I have been hearing from people that they have been having issues accessing their Social Security accounts. INSTEAD of going to a branch which may be hundreds or 1Ks+ of miles away from you, call your members of Congress. They have constituent services that will help you regain access. Please share!

Seylou (between 9th and 10th and N streets northwest)

Jewish groups targeted Columbia grad Mahmoud Khalil — then ICE arrested him Pro-Israel Jewish groups targeted Mahmoud Khalil, a recent graduate of Columbia University, days before ICE agents arrested him.

As a Jewish person it is so uniquely painful to exist in a world where Jews are the ones making lists of people for the government to target.

Those who know me know I was highly critical of what I saw as some of the rhetorical excesses of the campus protests. Khalil and I wld probably get into a spat immediately. It's all the more important for people who believe as I do to say clearly, the protections of the law are for everyone.

Sale of Ellen Raskin Estate Reveals Unpublished 'Westing Game' Sequel International Literary Properties has acquired Raskin’s estate and, along with it, two previously unpublished manuscripts by the late author, including a sequel to her Newbery Award–winning mystery, '...

Now THIS is news www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...

Courts rule on Trump administration initiatives including DOGE, DEI The latest news on President Donald Trump’s return to the White House and the new Congress.

NEW: Peggy Carr, commissioner of the Nat'l Center on Education Statistics and a two-decade+ veteran at Educ Dept, was abruptly put on leave today. She runs NAEP, the national math and reading tests seen as important marker of educational progress www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Now this, I can co-sign.

Today at 4:15 at the CFPB, 1700 G Street NW in DC

The deadline has been extended until noon on Feb 10. Thanks to everyone who has signed on. Over 2,400 organizations and individuals to date.

If it's true that future collection of Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data "will cease," this would be a staggering loss to the global community. 1/6

www.science.org/content/arti...

Gannett, owner of the Des Moines Register, won’t publicly commit to paying legal costs for Ann Seltzer, the pollster being sued by Trump.

This is ominous, especially in light of the capitulation last week by Disney/ABC, which is vastly better resourced than Gannett.

www.nytimes.com/2024/12/19/u...

How about habanero almonds? Tasty and definitely spicy.