Jobs Reports Could Disappear, Leaving You Guessing While Insiders Stay Informed

When you can’t trust the referee, the entire game feels questionable. President Trump recently fired the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) after July’s disappointing jobs report, alleging without evidence that the numbers were “rigged.” Economists widely rejected the claim, but the move rattled markets that depend on consistent, credible data — especially amid tariffs, deportations, and AI-fueled uncertainty.

• Bespoke Investment Group’s review of seven election cycles since 1998 found BLS job reports sometimes helped Republicans, sometimes Democrats — with no clear bias either way.
• Trump’s new BLS pick, Heritage Foundation economist E.J. Antoni, wants to halt jobs reports, arguing that low survey response rates (under 50%) make the data unreliable for Wall Street and the Fed.

So what’s at stake? Former BLS Commissioner Erica Groshen warns that “a very important part of our information infrastructure is at risk,” calling “official statistics a public good” that can’t easily be replaced by private alternatives. The concern comes as Trump calls for the 2030 census to exclude undocumented immigrants, increased politicization of statistical agencies, and Commerce Secretary Lutnick notes the disbanding of expert panels that oversee inflation and GDP data. Without trustworthy government data, the US risks a future where citizens dismiss official reports — giving insiders an even bigger edge over ordinary investors and businesses.