President Donald Trump on Friday ordered the immediate dismissal of Erika McEntarfer, the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), after branding the latest jobs report as “rigged.” The president’s claims came just hours after the release of troubling employment numbers showing slowing job growth.
“I have directed my Team to fire this Biden Political Appointee, IMMEDIATELY,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “She will be replaced with someone much more competent and qualified.”
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Sluggish Job Growth Fuels Controversy
According to the July BLS jobs report, payrolls grew by just 73,000 jobs, while the previous two months were revised down by nearly 260,000. Over the past three months, average employment growth has dropped to just 35,000 per month—the slowest pace since the pandemic.
Trump responded by accusing the BLS of manipulating the data to harm his political standing:
“In my opinion, today’s Jobs Numbers were RIGGED in order to make the Republicans, and ME, look bad,” he wrote.
Former BLS Chief William Beach Defends McEntarfer
William Beach, former BLS Commissioner, condemned the firing in a strongly worded statement shared on X (formerly Twitter):
“The totally groundless firing of Dr. Erika McEntarfer sets a dangerous precedent and undermines the statistical mission of the Bureau,” Beach wrote.
He emphasized that BLS reports are the result of transparent, decentralized, and time-tested methodologies:
“The Commissioner does not determine what the numbers are but simply reports what the data show. The process is designed to prevent political interference.”
Undermining Trust in U.S. Economic Data
Beach warned that politicizing official labor statistics damages the credibility of federal data systems relied upon by businesses, families, and policymakers.
“U.S. official statistics are the gold standard globally. When economic data becomes a political tool, it destroys public trust—not just in the data but in government science as a whole.”
Expert Concerns Over Independence of Federal Agencies
The abrupt firing of McEntarfer has alarmed economists and statisticians, many of whom argue this move threatens the independence of federal agencies tasked with providing objective and critical data. The BLS plays a vital role in delivering unbiased employment statistics, which are essential for shaping economic and fiscal policy.
Conclusion: A Dangerous Precedent in Politicizing Economic Data
President Trump’s decision to fire Erika McEntarfer, citing alleged data manipulation, has drawn widespread backlash from economists and former federal officials. As job growth slows, the debate is shifting from the numbers themselves to the integrity of how those numbers are reported. With political pressure mounting, the independence of federal agencies like the BLS could face a serious threat, raising concerns about the future reliability of U.S. economic indicators.