Trump-Dismissed Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner: Erika McEntarfer
In a surprising turn of events, Erika McEntarfer, an accomplished labor economist with a distinguished career in federal government service, was abruptly fired by President Donald Trump in July 2025.
McEntarfer, an appointee of President Joe Biden, had served as the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for a year and a half. She held a bachelor's degree in Social Science from Bard College and a doctoral degree in economics from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
Her tenure at the BLS was marked by a strong focus on data accuracy and a commitment to her field. Sarah J. Glynn, former Labor Department chief economist, praised McEntarfer for her generosity in explaining data conclusions and for never weighing in on how the administration should present or interpret the data. Heather Boushey, a senior research fellow at Harvard University, echoed these sentiments, stating that McEntarfer never talked politics at work and focused on the best analysis and approach to her field.
The firing was due to Trump's dissatisfaction with the July jobs report, which showed a slowdown in hiring. Trump, without evidence, accused McEntarfer of manipulating the job numbers. However, those who knew her professionally described her as having a sterling reputation as someone concerned about the accuracy of the data.
Before her confirmation, a group called the Friends of the BLS, which includes former commissioners, statistical associations members, and credentialed economists, endorsed McEntarfer as a great choice for the job. Among the Republican senators who voted to confirm McEntarfer were then-Sen. JD Vance of Ohio (now Trump's vice president) and then-Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida (now Trump's secretary of state).
William Beach, former BLS commissioner, called McEntarfer's firing "groundless" and said it "sets a dangerous precedent and undermines the statistical mission of the Bureau." The firing drew bipartisan criticism, with McEntarfer being confirmed as BLS head on a bipartisan 86-8 Senate vote in January 2024.
McEntarfer's career in federal service began at the Census Bureau's Longitudinal Employer–Household Dynamics Program, where she worked from 2002 to 2008, later becoming head of research for the program from 2018 to 2019. She also served as a lead labor markets economist in the Census Bureau's Center for Economic Studies starting in 2010. Her federal service also included stints at the economic staff of the Treasury Department's Office of Tax Policy (2008–2010) and as a senior economist on the nonpolitical staff of the White House Council of Economic Advisers during the Biden administration.
Despite the controversial end to her tenure as Commissioner of Labor Statistics, McEntarfer's contributions to the field of labor economics and her commitment to data accuracy are undeniable. Her research specialties include job loss, retirement, worker mobility, and wage rigidity.
- Erika McEntarfer, who was initially appointed by President Joe Biden, was serving as the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), focusing on data accuracy and commitment to her field.
- McEntarfer's firing by President Donald Trump in July 2025 drew bipartisan criticism due to Trump's allegations of manipulating job numbers, a claim strongly disputed by those who knew her professionally.
- After her tenure at the BLS, McEntarfer's career in federal service included roles at the Census Bureau, the economic staff of the Treasury Department's Office of Tax Policy, and as a senior economist on the nonpolitical staff of the White House Council of Economic Advisers.
- With her research specialties in job loss, retirement, worker mobility, and wage rigidity, McEntarfer's contributions to the field of labor economics and her commitment to data accuracy are undeniable, despite the controversy surrounding her dismissal from the BLS.
