"Precedent-breaking action": Previous BLS head accuses fired labor official of manipulation
In the heart of Washington, D.C., on August 4, 2025, a poignant moment unfolded. The image, captured by Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images, depicts the US Capitol in the background, with a signage for the US Department of Labor prominently displayed[1][2].
The context of this significant moment is related to the latest jobs numbers, and it centres around the firing of Erika McEntarfer, the former Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Commissioner[1][2]. President Trump made the decision to terminate McEntarfer's tenure shortly after the release of disappointing job numbers. His reason for the dismissal was his claim that the jobs report contained "phony" numbers meant to reflect poorly on his administration, though he provided no evidence to support this allegation[1].
The firing of McEntarfer has been met with widespread criticism by experts and the BLS community. The BLS commissioner does not influence the data but reports the numbers produced through a transparent and decentralized process designed to prevent manipulation[2]. The firing is seen as an attack on the independence and integrity of the federal statistical system[2].
Leila Fadel, in a thought-provoking podcast episode of Trump's Terms, speaks with former BLS commissioner Erica Groshen about the firing of McEntarfer, and the implications it has for the future of the federal statistical system[3]. The podcast is available on our website for you to listen to, sponsor-free with our website+ subscription[4].
[1] - AFP/Getty Images [2] - Bureau of Labor Statistics [3] - Trump's Terms Podcast [4] - Our Website+ Subscription
- Despite the dismissal of Erika McEntarfer, the former BLS Commissioner, by President Trump following the release of disappointing job numbers, experts and the BLS community have expressed concern that this move could undermine the independence and integrity of the federal statistical system, as the BLS commissioner does not influence the data but reports the numbers produced through a transparent and decentralized process designed to prevent manipulation.
- In the aftermath of the firing of Erika McEntarfer, questions about the credibility of asset valuations and financial reports have emerged, given the potential political motivations involved in manipulating general news and economic data, such as job numbers, for political gain.
