Trump Fires Statistician Over Negative Economic News

US President Donald Trump has sacked the chief of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Erika McEntarfer, for publishing negative economic data. Trump claimed that McEntarfer manipulated the data to make him look bad. The Bureau's report indicated a slowdown in the jobs market, contradicting Trump's claim of a booming economy. Trump's actions are reminiscent of authoritarian regimes where dissenting voices are suppressed. The move has sparked concerns about the integrity of US economic data.

US President Donald Trump has ordered the firing of Erika McEntarfer, the commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), following the release of a jobs report that indicated a significant slowdown in the US jobs market. The report, released on July 1, 2025, showed that the economy added just 73,000 jobs in July, well below estimates, and revised the May and June numbers to be lower by more than 200,000 jobs [1].

Trump took to Truth Social to attack McEntarfer, claiming that the jobs reports were being produced by a Biden appointee and that the numbers were manipulated to make the Republicans and him look bad. He ordered his administration to terminate her and stated that he would replace her with someone more competent and qualified [1].

The firing of McEntarfer has sent shockwaves through Washington, with many officials expressing concern about the politicization of economic data. Max Stier, CEO of the non-partisan Partnership for Public Service, criticized the move, stating that it further erodes the credibility of the government [1].

McEntarfer's firing is not the first time Trump has criticized the BLS. In the past, he has praised the agency's reports when they were favorable to his administration and accused it of manipulation when the data was negative. This behavior is reminiscent of authoritarian regimes where dissenting voices are suppressed [1].

The BLS is responsible for collecting and reporting data on the nation's labor markets and economy. Its independence and impartiality are crucial for businesses, consumers, and policymakers to make informed decisions. Any erosion of trust in the agency's data could have significant implications for the US economy [1].

Former Labor Department officials have slammed Trump's decision, with Julie Su, who served as Labor secretary during the Biden administration, stating that the work is done by expert career staff who do their jobs with care and pride [1]. The BLS routinely revises economic data, and the lag in data collection does not imply any wrongdoing or manipulation [1].

Trump's actions have raised concerns about the integrity of US economic data. The politicization of economic data is typically seen in nondemocratic countries like Russia, Venezuela, or China. The move has sparked concerns about the potential for political interference in the agency's work [1].

The firing of McEntarfer has also been criticized by former BLS commissioners and associates, who have warned about its repercussions and said that McEntarfer was nonpolitical in her role. William Beach, who served as BLS commissioner from 2019 to 2023, called the firing "groundless" and said it sets a dangerous precedent [2].

References:
[1] https://www.nbcnews.com/business/economy/trump-orders-firing-bls-commissioner-weak-jobs-report-rcna222531
[2] https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/erika-mcentarfer-bureau-labor-statistics-commissioner-fired-trump-124297038