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Erica Groshen @ericagroshen.bsky.social · 19d

#BLS has delayed the 2024 Consumer Expenditures Survey annual release. This is likely due to the severe understaffing in the agency.
Staff losses and hiring freeze are taking their toll.

www.bls.gov/cex/notices/...

#econsky

Consumer Expenditures 2024 Data Release to be Rescheduled

Consumer Expenditures 2024 Data Release to be Rescheduled (9/19/2025)

www.bls.gov

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COPAFS @copafs.bsky.social · 20d

TODAY at 2p ET: The Independent Census Scientific Advisory Committee Fall Meeting.

www.censusscientific.org/meetings/fal...

Fall 2025 Meeting — Independent Census Scientific Advisory Committee (I-CSAC)

Description

www.censusscientific.org

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Erica Groshen @ericagroshen.bsky.social · 24d

3 ways to honor the fearless Bureau of Labor Statistics staff
-JOIN Friends of BLS & invite others www.friendsofbls.org
-LEARN and reassure yourself & others that BLS data are good AND could be better w/ adequate support from Congress & White House
-PARTICIPATE in BLS surveys--you & your employer

The Friends of the Bureau of Labor Statistics

www.friendsofbls.org

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COPAFS @copafs.bsky.social · 27d

Friends of BLS Statement of Support for the BLS Mission and its Staff.

"The [benchmark data] revision reflects BLS doing its job: providing accurate, objective information regardless of political consequences."

www.friendsofbls.org/updates/2025...

Statement in Support of the BLS Mission and its Fearless Leadership and Staff — The Friends of the Bureau of Labor Statistics

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. ...

www.friendsofbls.org

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COPAFS @copafs.bsky.social · 29d

COPAFS Statement on the Administration's Reaction to BLS Benchmark Data Revisions

"Today’s claims regarding BLS are groundless and may cause further harm to the Bureau’s ability to carry out its work."

copafs.org/copafs-state...

COPAFS Statement on the Administration’s Reaction to Benchmark Data Revisions from the BLS – Council of Professional Associations on Federal Statistics

copafs.org

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COPAFS @copafs.bsky.social · Sep 4

Have questions about BLS and the monthly jobs report? The Friends of BLS have you covered with insightful answers to FAQs.

www.friendsofbls.org/updates/2025...

Background Information for Jobs Day – Sept 5 — The Friends of the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Click Background Information for Jobs Day – Sept 5 to read the entire PDF document.

www.friendsofbls.org

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COPAFS @copafs.bsky.social · Sep 4

@popassocamerica.bsky.social invites you to an in-person congressional briefing, "U.S. Birth Rate Trends: Patterns, Drivers, and Implications for American Families", on Wednesday, October 8, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in 2075 Rayburn House Office Building.

www.populationassociation.org/events/event...

U.S. Birth Rate Trends: Patterns, Drivers, and Implications for American Families

Please join us on Wednesday, October 8, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in 2075 Rayburn House Office Building for

www.populationassociation.org

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Aaron Sojourner @aaronsojourner.org · Aug 19

Georgiou got his PhD is econ at UMich.

When he did his job as leader of Greece's statistical agency, he told inconvenient economic truths.

For that, politicians had him sued & criminally prosecuted.

Read to find out where it led and implications for the U.S.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/19/o...

Opinion | I’ve Seen What Happens When a Country Messes With Data. America, Beware.

www.nytimes.com

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COPAFS @copafs.bsky.social · Aug 18

John Cassidy of the @newyorker.com makes the case for an independent BLS. @ericagroshen.bsky.social and Bill Beach weigh in.

#econsky #friendsofbls

www.newyorker.com/news/the-fin...

Big Business and Wall Street Need to Stand Up for Honest Data

In nominating an inexperienced MAGA partisan for commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Donald Trump is chipping away at an essential foundation of the American economy.

www.newyorker.com

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Aaron Sojourner @aaronsojourner.org · Aug 14

#EconSky #NumbersDay

Erica Groshen @ericagroshen.bsky.social · Aug 14

New Friends of BLS statement
"[To] ensure...public trust in BLS...it is imperative that a nominee [for BLS Comish]:
· understand...that trust and data integrity are mission-critical...;
· promise to...defend the...integrity of BLS products [&] safeguards" www.friendsofbls.org/updates/2025...

Statement on E.J. Antoni Nomination for BLS Commissioner — The Friends of the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Statement on the Nomination of E.J. Antoni to Serve as the 17th Commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

www.friendsofbls.org

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COPAFS @copafs.bsky.social · Aug 13

Friends of BLS Statement on the Nomination of E.J. Antoni to Serve as the 17th Commissioner of BLS

www.friendsofbls.org/updates/2025...

Statement on E.J. Antoni Nomination for BLS Commissioner — The Friends of the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Statement on the Nomination of E.J. Antoni to Serve as the 17th Commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

www.friendsofbls.org

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Erica Groshen @ericagroshen.bsky.social · Aug 13

"The Bureau of Labor Statistics shall also collect, collate, report and publish at least once per month full and complete statistics on the volume of and changes in employment, as indicated by the number of people employed, the total wages paid, and the total hours of employment."
US law--1913, 1930

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Aaron Sojourner @aaronsojourner.org · Aug 12

Two former BLS commissioners, @ericagroshen.bsky.social appointed by Obama and William Beach by Trump, lay out the principles and standards against which any BLS commissioner nominee, such as Dr. E.J. Antoni, should be measured.
www.linkedin.com/posts/erica-...

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Erica Groshen @ericagroshen.bsky.social · Aug 10

“Losing trust in government statistics wouldn’t be the end of the world, but it would be the end of the world as we know it.”

Sobering thoughts for investors and others from Jeff Sommer.

What if You Can’t Believe the Official Numbers? www.nytimes.com/2025/08/08/b...

#econsky @aaronsojourner.org

What if You Can’t Believe the Official Numbers?

www.nytimes.com

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Noam Ross @noamross.net · Aug 10

Frauke Kreuter giving a deeply informed and rousing defense of the U.S. federal statistical agencies and community at #user2025, with a clear-eyed view of its challenges user2025.r-project.org/program/in-p...

Frauke Kreuter LMU Munich / University of Maryland – useR! 2025

Government statistics—and the data behind them—are the backbone of scientific research and evidence-based policymaking. Yet chronic under-funding, fragmented systems, and the spread of low-cost synthe...

user2025.r-project.org

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Erica Groshen @ericagroshen.bsky.social · Aug 9

"Private companies are not in the business of creating public goods, which is what economic statistics from the government are."
says @claudia-sahm.bsky.social

www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...
#econsky

The BLS Can’t Be Replaced by the Private Sector

Government statistical agencies provide breadth and context that private firms can’t match.

www.bloomberg.com

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COPAFS @copafs.bsky.social · Aug 8

Statement on Safeguarding the Integrity of Federal Statistics from the National Academies

www.nationalacademies.org/news/2025/08...

www.nationalacademies.org

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Erica Groshen @ericagroshen.bsky.social · Aug 7

Vacancy rate for #BLS top leaders=33%.

--35 top positions
--11 positions are vacant www.bls.gov/bls/senior_s...

Including the Commissioner adds 1 to both counts.
Vacancy rate=12/36

BLS soldiers on, despite early retirements, deferred resignations, and the hiring freeze.

#econsky #economy

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COPAFS @copafs.bsky.social · Aug 7

Trump announces new rules for college admissions data, revamping IPEDS data collection and reporting.

www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/...

Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Ensures Transparency in Higher Education Admissions

ENSURING ACCOUNTABILITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum directing the Secretary of Education to

www.whitehouse.gov

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American Association for Public Opinion Research @aapor.bsky.social · Aug 3

AAPOR Statement on the Removal of BLS Commissioner McEntarfer. Read the complete statement here: aapor.org/statements/a...

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COPAFS @copafs.bsky.social · Aug 3

Good summary of reactions from the statistical community on the firing of Commissioner McEntarfer.

fedscoop.com/statistics-p...

Statistics, public data leaders condemn Trump’s order to fire BLS commissioner

One group, whose leadership includes two former BLS commissioners, called on Congress to respond immediately and investigate her removal.

fedscoop.com

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COPAFS @copafs.bsky.social · Aug 2

copafs.org/statement-fr...

STATEMENT FROM THE AMERICAN ECONOMIC ASSOCIATION ON THE DISMISSAL OF THE BLS COMMISSIONER – Council of Professional Associations on Federal Statistics

copafs.org

COPAFS @copafs.bsky.social · Aug 2

AEA Statement on Dismissal of BLS Comm.

"The independence of the federal statistical agencies is essential to the proper functioning of a modern economy. Accurate, timely, and impartial statistics are the foundation upon which households, businesses, and policymakers make critical decisions."

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Aaron Sojourner @aaronsojourner.org · Aug 2

BLS does amazing work to create timely, accurate info about America's working families, a huge public good.

They are there for us & we need to show up for them.

If you are a labor economist or care about workers & employment, follow & join Friends of BLS.
www.friendsofbls.org/join

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Erika McEntarfer @erikamcentarfer.bsky.social · Aug 2

It has been the honor of my life to serve as Commissioner of BLS alongside the many dedicated civil servants tasked with measuring a vast and dynamic economy. It is vital and important work and I thank them for their service to this nation.

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