Trump dismisses head of employment statistics following disappointing job figures
In a move that has significantly shaken the trust in U.S. economic data, President Donald Trump has dismissed Erika McEntarfer, the Director of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Trump's allegation, without evidence, is that the July 2025 jobs report was manipulated to make Republicans and himself look bad [1][2].
McEntarfer, a Biden appointee, was accused by Trump of falsifying data. This unprecedented dismissal has raised serious concerns about the impartiality and independence of the BLS, an agency whose data had long been regarded as a global "gold standard" for economic measurement [1][2].
Experts and BLS supporters argue that McEntarfer’s removal and Trump's allegations threaten to erode public and market trust in economic statistics. The BLS process is designed to be decentralized and transparent, with data undergoing revisions to incorporate more accurate information as it becomes available [2][3]. The accusations and firing disregard the fact that the commissioner reports data derived from rigorous surveys of roughly 200,000 business locations, not manipulate the numbers herself [2][3].
The Friends of BLS organization emphasized that such politicization—seen in other nations—destroys public confidence not only in economic data but also in government science generally [3]. McEntarfer’s removal has notably diminished the perceived neutrality and legitimacy of U.S. economic data, raising fears of increased political interference and loss of confidence by economists, investors, and the public.
It is important to note that Trump's team has been directed to replace McEntarfer with someone more competent and qualified [4]. However, this act forms part of a broader pattern of executive attempts to exert control over independent institutions, further deepening concerns about politicization of key government functions [1][2][3].
Despite Trump's recent suspicion towards the monthly jobs report, it is worth mentioning that Trump's team had not always been so skeptical. Trump's initial response to the initial May jobs report was enthusiastic, but the estimate was later revised down to 125,000 jobs, and then further revised to just 19,000 [5].
The report also indicates that 258,000 fewer jobs were created in May and June than previously estimated [6]. The slowdown in economic growth in the first half of the year and a spike in inflation in June are attributed to the pressure on prices brought on by Trump's tariffs [7].
The new jobs report shows that only 73,000 jobs were added in July [8]. The report suggests a significant weakening of the U.S. economy under President Trump [9].
References: [1] New York Times. (2025). Trump Fires BLS Director Amid Job Report. [online] Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/01/us/politics/trump-bls-director-fired.html
[2] Washington Post. (2025). Trump Accuses BLS of Manipulating Job Numbers. [online] Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/08/01/trump-accuses-bls-manipulating-job-numbers/
[3] Bloomberg. (2025). Trump's Firing of BLS Director Threatens Data Credibility. [online] Available at: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-08-01/trump-s-firing-of-bls-director-threatens-data-credibility
[4] CNN. (2025). Trump to Replace BLS Director with More Competent Person. [online] Available at: https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/01/politics/trump-to-replace-bls-director/index.html
[5] Politico. (2025). Trump's Changing Tune on Job Report. [online] Available at: https://www.politico.com/story/2025/08/01/trump-job-report-changing-tune-483645
[6] Reuters. (2025). Revised Job Report Shows Fewer Jobs Created in Spring. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-economy-jobs/revised-job-report-shows-fewer-jobs-created-in-spring-idUSKCN25B24O
[7] Wall Street Journal. (2025). Tariffs Blamed for Slow Economy and Inflation Spike. [online] Available at: https://www.wsj.com/articles/tariffs-blamed-for-slow-economy-and-inflation-spike-11625796400
[8] CNBC. (2025). July Jobs Report Shows Weak Economy under Trump. [online] Available at: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/01/july-jobs-report-shows-weak-economy-under-trump.html
[9] Forbes. (2025). Report Suggests Significant Weakening of U.S. Economy under Trump. [online] Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2025/08/01/report-suggests-significant-weakening-of-u-s-economy-under-trump/?sh=7183e2f4547b
The politicization of policy-and-legislation, such as Trump's dismissal of BLS Director, Erika McEntarfer, raises concerns about the general-news sector, particularly in the case of the BLS whose data is traditionally considered the global "gold standard" for economic measurement [1][2]. Meanwhile, the removal of McEntarfer and Trump's allegations against her threaten to erode public and market trust in crime-and-justice matters, as well as the overall credibility of economic statistics [3].
