President Donald Trump has dismissed Dr. Erika McEntarfer, commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), accusing her of manipulating U.S. jobs data for political reasons. The decision follows a disappointing labor report that added only 73,000 jobs in July, far below forecasts.
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The July jobs report did more than fall short of expectations. It also revised May and June figures downward by 258,000 jobs combined. As a result, the three-month hiring pace is now the weakest since the pandemic recession of 2020.
However, such revisions are a routine part of the BLS process. Initial job estimates are often adjusted as more complete data becomes available. In addition, the BLS applies seasonal adjustments to ensure accuracy. Despite this, Trump called the changes “rigged” and blamed McEntarfer personally.
On Truth Social, Trump declared:
“In my opinion, these jobs numbers were RIGGED to hurt Republicans and ME. So, I fired her.”
Furthermore, Trump alleged McEntarfer “faked” the data to help former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. Meanwhile, experts stressed that no evidence supports these claims.
Until Trump appoints a replacement, Deputy Commissioner William Wiatrowski will serve as acting head of the BLS.
Economists reacted strongly to Trump’s decision. Jason Furman, former Obama economic adviser, warned:
“It’s dangerous for any administration to question the integrity of the BLS. Accurate statistics are critical for the economy.”
Similarly, Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, said the BLS operates at the “highest standard.” He added, “Anything that undermines that trust is deeply worrisome.”
Meanwhile, some Republicans defended Trump. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer stated:
“Recent revisions raised serious concerns. I support the President’s decision to ensure Americans can trust BLS data.”
This is not Trump’s first clash with the BLS. During his 2016 campaign, he claimed the unemployment rate was far worse than reported. Later, in 2024, he accused President Biden’s administration of covering up an overcount of 818,000 jobs.
However, Trump has also praised strong jobs data when it suited his administration. In 2017, former Press Secretary Sean Spicer even declared that BLS reports were no longer “phony” after a strong employment report.
This back-and-forth has left many economists concerned about political pressure on independent agencies.
The BLS jobs survey is essential for both government and private sector planning. It samples more than 100,000 businesses and agencies each month, representing about 629,000 worksites.
Moreover, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has emphasized the importance of maintaining reliable economic data. He recently warned Congress that ongoing cost-cutting measures at BLS could undermine the scope of future reports.
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Democrats have criticized Trump’s move. Senator Mark Warner stated:
“Firing the umpire doesn’t change the score. Americans deserve honest data about the state of Trump’s economy.”
Meanwhile, Trump doubled down, insisting the jobs report was intentionally misleading. “We need people we can trust,” he said.
This statement has raised fears about further politicization of government agencies. Consequently, many are now questioning whether the BLS will remain free from political influence.
The firing of Erika McEntarfer signals a turbulent period for economic reporting in the United States. While Trump insists he acted to protect public trust, critics argue it could weaken the credibility of a critical institution.
In the coming weeks, Trump is expected to name a new BLS commissioner. However, economists warn that even the appearance of political interference could damage confidence in the country’s labor data.
In conclusion, Trump’s decision has sparked controversy and heightened tensions over the accuracy of U.S. economic statistics. As the debate continues, one thing is clear: the integrity of the BLS will remain under scrutiny.
For continuous updates on this Erika McEntarfer developing story, visit Intime Sky News.
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