Trump-Assigned Official Speaks Out on Surprising Dismissal Following Disappointing Economic Report
In a recent speech at Bard College, the former Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) chief, Erika McEntarfer, addressed her controversial dismissal by President Donald Trump last month.
McEntarfer, who spent a significant portion of her time in Trump's second term fending off efforts by the Department of Government Efficiency to interfere with the BLS's operations, described her job as a constant high-wire act. She asserted that the firing has serious economic consequences, a sentiment that was previously reported by CNN.
During her speech, McEntarfer did not discuss the current state of the unemployment rate or the consumer price index. She compared messing with economic data to turning off traffic lights and causing traffic jams at intersections, emphasizing the importance of the BLS's statistics for investors and business leaders.
McEntarfer also spoke about her separation from the agency for the first time, but did not mention any new developments regarding her replacement or the Senate confirmation of Trump's chosen nominee, E.J. Antoni. She did not discuss her plans for modernizing the way the BLS compiles its reports, a goal she had previously expressed.
Despite her dismissal, McEntarfer maintains that firing the chief statistician is a dangerous step and an attack on the independence of the agency. She asserted that the BLS releases statistics that are critical for the functioning of the economy, and any manipulation could lead to chaos.
An acting commissioner, William Wiatrowski, is currently filling in while Antoni awaits Senate confirmation. Antoni, an American economist and chief economist at the conservative Heritage Foundation, was nominated by President Trump in August 2025 to lead the BLS after McEntarfer's dismissal. He holds a doctorate in economics from Northern Illinois University and has contributed to Project 2025.
Trump became enraged in August after the BLS released a jobs report showing the economy has been slowing down more than expected. McEntarfer did not mention any new developments regarding this enragement during her speech at Bard College.
McEntarfer went from a big-picture reformer to being on the defensive quickly, she stated. However, she did not mention any specific efforts by the Department of Government Efficiency to interfere with the BLS's operations during her speech.
McEntarfer did not previously mention the impact of the firing on the economy, but she made it clear during her speech that she believes it has serious consequences. She did not mention any new developments regarding the support HuffPost has received from readers during her speech at Bard College.
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