President Donald Trump fired Erika McEntarfer, the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), an action that has raised concerns about the politicization of economic data. Trump publicly accused McEntarfer of having "RIGGED" jobs figures to make Republicans and himself "look bad," without providing any evidence of data manipulation. This firing occurred hours after the BLS released a report for July showing only 73,000 jobs added, significantly below forecasts of 109,000. Additionally, the BLS made downward revisions to May and June job numbers, lowering them by 250,000.
Critics, including former BLS commissioners and Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, condemned Trump's decision, calling it a move typical of authoritarian countries rather than democratic ones. Summers, who had previously served as a commissioner during Trump's first term and oversaw a 500,000 job revision, stated that it's impossible for a commissioner to "rig the jobs numbers" as they are compiled by hundreds of people using detailed, established procedures. His comments underscore the widespread belief that such actions undermine public trust in official statistics and governmental science.
The White House defended the firing, with economic advisors suggesting that the large downward revisions, such as the 125,000 job reduction for May—the largest since March 2020—were a main concern. These revisions, critics argue, contribute to uncertainty about the accuracy and reliability of U.S. economic data, especially given declining response rates from employers to BLS surveys. Brian Moynihan, CEO of Bank of America, called for improvements in data quality to prevent frequent restatements that erode confidence.
McEntarfer, who was confirmed by the Senate with bipartisan support in January 2024, responded to her dismissal on social media, expressing that it was "the honor of her life" to serve as BLS commissioner and praising the agency's civil servants. Her removal adds to growing concerns about the integrity of U.S. economic data, particularly in context of new tariffs and global market volatility.
