The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) on Friday delivered a jobs report showing anemic growth in the economy, figures that are likely to spur concerns about the broader economy under President Trump.
The U.S. added 22,000 jobs and the unemployment rate rose to 4.3 percent in August, according to the report. Economists expected the economy to gain 75,000 jobs last month, according to consensus projections.
Trump late Thursday signaled that “real” data would not be available until next year.
This is the first jobs report since Trump ousted its former director over dismal results this summer amid claims the numbers had been altered. The new figures look similar to the last report, which substantially revised downward job gains from previous months.
It all adds up to clear signs that the economy has lost steam in Trump’s first spring and summer in office of his second term.
Separately, lawmakers in Congress left Washington, D.C. for their home districts Thursday under the pressure of a Sept. 30 government shutdown deadline. They will return next week with a hefty legislative agenda, as divisions within the GOP and Democrats’ frustrations threaten to derail funding negotiations.
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also faced tense grilling from senators on Thursday, leaving both sides of the aisle questioning how his policies and personnel decisions will impact the future of public health and vaccines.
Trump on Friday is expected to sign an executive order officially renaming the Department of Defense to the Department of War followed by an announcement from the White House. Later, he will host a dinner in the newly renovated Rose Garden.
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