Trump dismisses BLS head following unfavorable employment statistics
In a series of recent events, President Trump has taken a firm stance on the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the jobs report, calling for changes and questioning the accuracy of the data.
On Friday, the jobs report showed a significant downturn in job growth during Trump's administration, with only 73,000 jobs added in July. This figure fell far short of economist expectations of 110,000 jobs, and the report also revealed significant downward revisions to the job gains in May and June. May's job growth was revised down by 125,000 jobs, and June's by 133,000.
In response to the report, President Trump labeled it as "rigged" and suggested that it was politically motivated. He also accused Erika McEntarfer, the commissioner of the BLS, of faking job numbers before the 2024 presidential election to benefit Vice President Kamala Harris. This accusation came after Trump announced the termination of McEntarfer following the July job report.
Top White House economist Stephen Miran attributed about 60% of the downward revision in the jobs report to quirks in the seasonal adjustment process. However, Miran also stated that the jobs report was dismal, echoing Trump's sentiments.
Trump's criticism of McEntarfer and the jobs report is not the first time he has taken aim at the Federal Reserve. He has previously threatened to fire Chair Jerome Powell and urged the central bank board to take control away from Powell. Despite these threats, Trump has yet to follow through on them.
McEntarfer was appointed by former President Biden and was confirmed in a bipartisan 86-8 vote. Vice President Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who were senators at the time, voted in favor of her nomination.
The BLS has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding these accusations or the firing of McEntarfer. This story was updated at 3:55 p.m. The copyright for the material belongs to Nexstar Media, Inc.
- ESPN's political analysis segment delved into the ongoing controversy surrounding President Trump, his recent accusations against Erika McEntarfer, the commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and the jobs report, likening it to the ongoing battle of rhetoric in politics and media.
- In the general news section, a discussion unfolded about the policy-and-legislation implications of the Trump administration's conflict with the BLS, with experts considering the possible effects on war-and-conflicts budgets and crime-and-justice funding.
- Meanwhile, as the media intensely scrutinized the Trump-McEntarfer standoff, investigative journalists delved into potential connections between political candidates, campaign financing, and the BLS jobs report, shedding light on the intricate web of policy, financing, and the impact on sports organizations and sponsorships.
