White House defends Trump's firing of labour statistics head over US jobs data
firing of the head of the Bureau of Labour Statistics , pushing back against criticism that Trump's action could undermine confidence in official US economic data.
Later on Sunday, Trump again criticised BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer, without providing evidence of wrongdoing, and said he would name a new BLS commissioner in the next three or four days.
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told CBS that Trump had 'real concerns' about the BLS data, while Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council, said the president 'is right to call for new leadership'.
Hassett said on Fox News Sunday the main concern was Friday's BLS report of net downward revisions showing 258,000 fewer jobs had been created in May and June than previously reported.
Erika McEntarfer, who was fired as BLS Commissioner. Photo: US Bureau of Labour Statistics via Reuters
Trump accused McEntarfer of faking the jobs numbers, without providing any evidence of data manipulation. The BLS compiles the closely watched employment report as well as consumer and producer price data.
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