BLS Chief Firing: Impacts on Economic Credibility

When the Numbers Start Lying- The Firing of BLS Chief

What you are feeling in the air isn’t just humidity. The recent firing of Dr. Erika McEntarfer, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) chief, will have Wall Street and the rest of the world wondering about the credibility of future U.S. government job reports. What used to be dry, boring, data-driven updates will now feel more like propaganda. No need to reread George Orwell’s classic 1984 if you are living it. 

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Even if the Trump administration publishes figures from the BLS claiming there’s a thriving economy, your eyes don’t lie. If your town is one of the many with another shuttered factory, or you work in a tourist economy, and the tourists are gone, and you are now living in a ghost town, you know better.

If Wall Street analysts, global financial firms, and even foreign governments start doubting government data, then we have a problem that extends far beyond credibility. We are already facing a truth crisis with real economic consequences. Just yesterday, I saw a rambling interview with Peter Navarro on ABC that was filled with lies.

The Numbers Don’t Lie, But They Can Be Lied About 

Let’s talk about what’s actually happening: bankruptcies are climbing for both personal and business filings. Farm bankruptcies six months into the year surpassed figures from the prior year, an ominous financial sign for rural stability and food supply chains.

Factories are folding thanks to the endless tariff war. Tariffs are hitting hard, and major manufacturers like Stellantis (Jeep, Dodge) are responding by shutting down plants. These closures ripple through local economies, leaving behind unemployment and empty storefronts.

Yet, the President is saying a tariff rebate check is likely. More lies, unless you happened to receive a DOGE check, which I don’t believe you did. But hey, it’s all good. Welcome to the new normal.

• The Trump Tariff Rebate Check. You Fell for It, Again…
• The Hypocrisy of DOGE Checks: Analyzing the Right’s Reactions

Tourism is tanking. Las Vegas, South Florida, and other hospitality hubs are reporting steep declines in visitors. That means fewer tips, fewer shifts, and more economic strain for service workers. These aren’t isolated data points. They’re symptoms of a broader slowdown, and the official narrative isn’t keeping up. As I’ve said endless times before, tourism will dry up, and now $15,000 just to walk through the doors of the United States isn’t going to help!

The Snowball Effect of Manipulated Data with the BLS 

When economic data becomes a PR tool, the fallout is global. International trading partners rely on accurate statistics to make trade and investment decisions. If they start doubting our numbers, they’ll start looking elsewhere, just like you would. 

Closer to home, manipulated government data erodes public confidence. People aren’t stupid! They see the layoffs, the bankruptcies, the shrinking paychecks, and the rising costs of everything. And when reality contradicts the headlines, trust collapses. It’s the well-known question asked whether in law, journalism, or Congressional hearings: Were you lying then, or are you lying now?

What You Can Do: Trust but Verify 

Don’t outsource your economic awareness to cable news. Look around. What do your eyes tell you? What do your friends and family tell you? Watch the bankruptcy filings. And if you want hard numbers, consult financial institutions like JPMorgan Chase, whose legal obligations to shareholders make them allergic to spin.

The disconnect between lies disguised as government optimism will affect you, and the government won’t be there to help you. It’s a warning. A major economic shift is coming, and AI isn’t helping. The question is whether you’ll be caught off guard or ready to pivot.

Want to hear more about the firing of the BLS chief? Watch the full video or listen to the podcast episode.

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