1. United States
2. Mass.
3. Letter

The integrity of our federal data collection is under severe threat. Recent actions by the Trump regime signal an alarming move towards authoritarian control of crucial economic statistics, undermining the independence and accuracy of our nation's data. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's dismissal of federal statisticians' independence as "nonsense" is a direct attack on the impartiality of our economic reporting. This, coupled with the firing of the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner following a jobs report revision, demonstrates a dangerous pattern of politicizing vital economic data. The nomination of a partisan economist as the new BLS commissioner, who has openly criticized the agency, further jeopardizes the objectivity of our national statistics. We've already seen the regime block or reduce reporting of unfavorable economic data, a clear attempt to manipulate public perception. These actions mirror authoritarian tactics, where governments control information to maintain power. While experts assure us that safeguards currently exist against outright data manipulation, proposed changes to the civil service could dismantle these protections. We cannot allow our federal data to become a political tool. The accuracy and independence of our economic statistics are crucial for informed policy-making and public trust. Congress must act immediately to protect the integrity of our federal statistical agencies. Enact legislation that ensures the independence of these agencies, prevents political interference in data collection and reporting, and maintains transparency in our economic indicators.