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Trump's Shutdown Hides True Unemployment Figures, Raises Concerns

11/14/2025

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Summary

Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration will not publish an official October unemployment rate because of the government shutdown.
White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett said the administration might “concoct” numbers.
The lack of a household survey leaves the true unemployment rate unknown.
The firing of the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner by U.S. President Donald Trump occurred earlier this year.

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Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration will not publish an official October unemployment rate because of the government shutdown.
White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett said the administration might “concoct” numbers.
The lack of a household survey leaves the true unemployment rate unknown.
The firing of the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner by U.S. President Donald Trump occurred earlier this year.