NEW YORK, NY—Daniella Ballou-Aares, CEO of the Leadership Now Project, issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s firing of Dr. Erika McEntarfer, Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and his efforts to discredit the bureau’s recent jobs report:

“President Trump’s firing of the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Dr. Erika McEntarfer, and his comments undermining the bureau’s recent jobs report threaten the integrity of an essential economic institution.”

“The credibility of the Bureau of Labor Statistics depends on its independence and analytical rigor. Business leaders rely on the bureau to make sound economic decisions. Politicizing it damages market confidence, investor trust, and ultimately, American competitiveness.”

“As Michael Strain of the American Enterprise Institute rightly stated, ‘It is imperative that businesses, households and investors believe that official government data are accurate and do not reflect any political bias. Fortunately, that is true of the data, but by sowing doubt, President Trump is undermining the integrity of the information that businesses, investors and households rely on.’”

“Leadership Now calls upon Congress to ensure this Administration upholds the independence and integrity of our democratic and economic institutions. We urge fellow business associations and leaders to join us.”