Trump calls for dismissal of U.S. official due to allegedly fabricated employment figures
In a move that has sparked controversy, President Donald Trump has ordered the firing of Dr. Erika McEntarfer, the Commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The decision came after the July employment report showed weaker-than-expected job growth, with 73,000 new nonfarm payroll jobs added and downward revisions to the previous two months’ data.
Trump accused McEntarfer, without evidence, of manipulating the data for political purposes, alleging she "faked the Jobs Numbers before the Election to try and boost Kamala's chances of Victory." This accusation has been met with criticism from economists and former colleagues who defend McEntarfer's nonpolitical professionalism and warn about the implications of interfering with independent statistical agencies.
Dr. McEntarfer, a seasoned economist, was appointed in January 2024 and confirmed with bipartisan support. She has extensive experience in the field, having worked at the Census Bureau, Treasury Department, and the White House Council of Economic Advisers in nonpolitical roles. Her role at the BLS was to oversee the collection and reporting of official labor market statistics, including the monthly jobs report.
The BLS operates independently from political influence to ensure accurate and unbiased economic data. The agency has a long-standing tradition of autonomy, with its commissioner typically serving a four-year term confirmed by the Senate, insulated from political pressure.
The social media post by Trump casting doubt on the latest hiring data has also caused a stir. It comes after a report showing weakness in the US economy, with the employment report that showed weakness being released on Friday. The jobs numbers in question are not the only data sets accused of manipulation by Trump.
The firing order for McEntarfer was issued by Trump, and the allegation of data manipulation was made on social media by him. Dr. McEntarfer is a subscriber to the Daily Briefing news service, a news service that provides updates and news straight to subscribers' inboxes.
The controversy has raised concerns about the politicisation of economic data and the potential impact on the independence of statistical agencies. Economists and experts have emphasised the importance of maintaining the integrity and credibility of such data, which is crucial for informed decision-making and policy-making.
- In response to the controversy surrounding the firing of Dr. Erika McEntarfer, economists and experts have called for the preservation of the independence of statistical agencies, highlighting the importance of maintaining the integrity and credibility of general-news data, such as employment reports, for informed policy-and-legislation decisions.
- With the politicization of economic data becoming a subject of debate, news services like the Daily Briefing take on increased significance, as they provide objective updates (news) directly to subscribers' inboxes, safeguarding the common public's access to accurate and non-manipulated information in the realm of policy-and-legislation and general-news.
