Statement in Support of the BLS Mission and its Fearless Leadership and Staff

The Friends of BLS strongly support the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), its leadership, staff, and mission. Since its founding in 1884, BLS has been guided by first commissioner Caroll D. Wright’s principle: to “fearless[ly]” publish facts “without regard to the influence those facts may have upon any party's position or any partisan's views.” On September 9, 2025, BLS staff lived up to this standard by releasing preliminary benchmark job estimates for the Current Employment Statistics program, following their usual transparent and scientific methods. The results showed a likely downward revision of 911,000 jobs as of March 2025—about 0.6% of U.S. employment. Such adjustments vary in size, but are fundamentally routine, correcting for misreporting and non-response bias.

Unfortunately, the Administration responded by questioning the agency’s integrity and calling BLS “broken.” The Secretary of Labor claimed the revision undermines public confidence in the data. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. The revision reflects BLS doing its job: providing accurate, objective information regardless of political consequences.

What truly threatens BLS is chronic underfunding, recent understaffing, and erosion of trust. Since 2010, BLS has lost 20% of its budget (adjusted for inflation), and the President’s FY26 Budget proposes another 8% cut. Furthermore, the Bureau has lost about 20% of its staff since January and a third of its leadership positions are vacant. Despite having ready-to-implement modernization plans, the agency lacks the people and resources to update its programs.

We urge the Administration and Congress to support, not undermine, BLS. Unfounded criticism of its staff and leaders damages morale and public trust. Constructive action means funding the Bureau and ending the hiring freeze so BLS can continue delivering the gold-standard, independent statistics that the nation depends on. Without this, our leaders are flying blind in setting the course for our economy.

The Friends of BLS stand firmly with the career civil servants at BLS who embody expertise, dedication, and courage in pursuit of objective economic measurement.

The Friends of BLS Co-Chairs: William Beach, Erica L. Groshen, Paul Schroeder

The Friends of BLS Steering Committee Members: Tom Beers, Mary Jo Mitchell, Demetra Nightingale, Steve Pierson, Ken Poole, Aaron Sojourner