Trump Fires Bureau Of Labor Statistics Chief After Weak Jobs Report

Erika McEntarfer, the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), was sacked by President Donald Trump in a sudden move in response to a dismal new jobs report. This decision increased political scrutiny of the country’s economic data and its governance.

Before being fired by President Donald Trump on Friday, August 1, Erika McEntarfer was the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

On Friday afternoon, August 1, Trump took to Truth Social to announce McEntarfer’s abrupt termination, just hours after the Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that the US economy added only 73,000 jobs in July—much fewer than analysts had predicted.

Concerns regarding the accuracy of earlier employment numbers were raised when the report disclosed that job gains for May and June had been cut down by more than 200,000 positions.

Trump charged McEntarfer, a seasoned labor economist and Biden appointee, with falsifying employment statistics for political ends.

In reference to his opponent in the 2024 election, former Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump wrote, “I was just informed that our Country’s Jobs Numbers are being produced by a Biden Appointee, Dr. Erika McEntarfer…who faked the Jobs Numbers before the Election to try and boost Kamala’s chances of Victory.”

Additionally, he said that the BLS had exaggerated the jobs growth in March 2024 by about 818,000 and again in August and September of 2024, just before the presidential election, by 112,000.

Echoing Trump’s worries, Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer said on X that she agrees with the president’s choice:

“Our employment figures must be impartial, truthful, and never swayed for political ends,” she stated in the post. “In order to guarantee that the American people can rely on the significant and impactful data coming from BLS, I endorse the President’s decision to replace Biden’s Commissioner.

McEntarfer, who was approved as commissioner in 2023 and has a Ph.D. in economics from Cornell University, had served at the Census Bureau and the BLS. Deputy Commissioner William Wiatrowski, a seasoned BLS official who has worked in several administrations, will temporarily replace her.

With Trump promising to choose someone far more capable and prepared to lead, the sudden leadership shift coincides with increased discussion over the accuracy of official economic data.

The process of finding a long-term substitute has begun.

For updates, return to Daily Voice.