The Bureau of Labor Statistics was the source of nonpartisan jobs numbers by which Americans could judge the status of the economy.
And the Federal Reserve was the independent central bank that often bucked the short-term demands of presidents with an eye toward the country’s long-term economic health.
Now the independence of each of these American institutions is in question after President Trump, in a push to root out pockets of independence of government, has fired or taken steps to fire their leaders.
In doing so, critics say, the Trump administration is risking the credibility of agencies that were long respected as above politics and play a vital role in providing information needed to guide major decisions about the nation’s course.
“These are places are not supposed to be partisan,” said Chris Edelson, an assistant professor of government at American University. “The biggest danger is the institution loses credibility, and people can’t count on it.”
In the span of a few weeks, Mr. Trump has fired the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics after a less-than-flattering jobs report; has sought to remove a Federal Reserve Board governor amid a push to gain control of the board; and has backed his health secretary’s decision to dismiss the director of the C.D.C. over vaccine policy.
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