President Trump just crossed another dangerous line by firing Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Erika McEntarfer after her agency reported slower job growth and downward revisions to prior employment numbers. His reason? He didn’t like the facts.

The BLS is supposed to be independent and nonpartisan. Its mission is to give Americans, workers, businesses, policymakers, the truth about our economy. But by ousting a career expert over inconvenient data, Trump is sending a chilling message that you must toe the party line—even when the facts disagree—or risk losing your job.

Truth matters. Businesses use this data to decide whether to hire or cut back. Policymakers use it to address economic challenges. Workers use it to demand fairer pay and benefits. If those numbers are manipulated, millions of people will make life-changing decisions based on lies.

If we allow Trump to install loyalists at the Labor, Treasury, and Commerce departments who are willing to “cook the books,” the numbers we depend on to understand the real economy could become nothing more than political propaganda. That’s unacceptable in a democracy.

Flood these agencies with a clear demand: protect your independence, uphold the truth, and give Americans the real story about our economy.