Trump Fires Labor Statistics Chief After Disappointing Jobs Report Sparks Controversy

 

President Donald Trump has dismissed Erika L. McEntarfer, the commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), following the release of a July jobs report that revealed significantly weaker employment growth than anticipated. The report showed the U.S. economy added just 73,000 jobs, far below the projected 105,000, and included downward revisions of 258,000 jobs for May and June.

Trump announced the firing via Truth Social, accusing McEntarfer—who was appointed by former President Joe Biden—of producing inaccurate and politically biased data. “We need accurate Jobs Numbers,” Trump wrote. “She will be replaced with someone much more competent and qualified”.

McEntarfer, a career labor economist with over two decades of federal service, had received bipartisan Senate confirmation in early 2024. Critics, including former BLS officials, have pushed back against Trump’s claims, emphasizing the rigorous, nonpartisan nature of the agency’s data collection and review process. “It’s essentially impossible for the numbers to be fudged,” said Keith Hall, a former BLS commissioner.

The firing comes amid broader concerns about the health of the U.S. labor market and follows recent mass layoffs across federal agencies and a decline in manufacturing jobs. Trump’s move has drawn criticism from economists and lawmakers who warn that politicizing statistical agencies could undermine public trust in government data.