New York Times: Trump administration asking states to delay release of unemployment numbers

[steve2470]

https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/20/politics/labor-department-states-unemployment-numbers-coronavirus/index.html

The Trump administration is asking state labor officials amid the coronavirus pandemic to keep the exact number of unemployment claims under embargo until the total national number is published in a weekly government report, according to The New York Times.

The Labor Department asked state officials in an email Wednesday to only "provide information using generalities to describe claims levels (very high, large increase)" and withhold exact figures, the Times reported.

"States should not provide numeric values to the public," Gay Gilbert, the administrator of the department's Office of Employment Insurance, wrote in her email obtained by the Times.

Government figures already show that Americans are starting to lose their jobs in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Before the pandemic hit the US, initial unemployment insurance claims were between roughly 210,000 and 230,000 a week.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/19/business/economy/coronavirus-employers-unemployment.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

[In_The_Wind]

1. Keeping it secret isn't going to change the numbers.

[jimfields33]

5. If I were him I'd rather the numbers be out there now instead of all at once

Everyone knows there going to be horrible. I wonder what he is thinking.

[underpants]

7. Yeah but someone would have to go through each state per week and total them up

Just saying.

This is blatant

[LonePirate]

10. Keeping them secret allows the feds to send out a false number that is far too low to protect 45.

[gibraltar72]

2. If you are laid off

please don't tell anyone.

[woodsprite]

3. He's like a molester telling his victims to not say anything or else... nt

[forgotmylogin]

9. Almost like it's a reflex reaction. Hunh. (n/t)

[Cartoonist]

4. I'm going to apply today

They can't order me to stay home and go broke.

[jimfields33]

6. There's ridiculous rules

Like if you are furloughed, you are not eligible. You might have to wait until that sick leave is passed. I mean I hope you get it, but there are some funky rules.

[WePurrsevere]

8. Trump sure does love to fudge numbers that...

Might make him look bad. It's been a trait of his for decades if you do a bit of research using decent sources.

Hopefully the governors ignore him. He's been screwing them over with testing kits, equipment and the truth, they owe him NOTHING. ALL of the governors need to look after their own citizens and work with other governors to get their needs met. They must all be open and upfront with the American people especially since the president is obviously not.

[malaise]

11. Of course - Don the Con hates bad numbers

Fuck him

Get thee to the greatest page to expose the kakistocracy.

[D_Master81]

12. Fed will say GAIN of 50,000 😂

States won’t add up to what the regime will put out there.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

13. Trump can't handle the truth