Trump Fires Labor Statistics Commissioner After Job Report Criticism

President Donald Trump dismissed Erika McEntarfer, the Labor Statistics Commissioner, following her announcement of disappointing US job growth figures. The decision, made on July 7, 2023, came shortly after Trump labeled the jobs report “rigged,” attributing the poor numbers to political motivations.

The latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicated that the US added just 73,000 jobs in July, significantly lower than expected. The previous two months’ figures were revised down by nearly 260,000, leading to an average employment growth of only 35,000 jobs per month over the last three months, marking the weakest performance since the onset of the pandemic.

Shortly after the report’s release, Trump took to Truth Social to announce McEntarfer’s termination. He stated, “I have directed my Team to fire this Biden Political Appointee, IMMEDIATELY. She will be replaced with someone much more competent and qualified.” He further asserted that the job numbers were manipulated to cast Republicans in a negative light.

Response from Former BLS Commissioner

Former BLS Commissioner William Beach criticized Trump’s actions, describing the firing as “totally groundless.” In a statement shared on social media, Beach emphasized that McEntarfer’s role was not to influence statistics but to report the data objectively. He highlighted the decentralized nature of the data collection process, which is designed to prevent interference.

Beach remarked, “The rationale for firing McEntarfer is without merit and undermines the credibility of federal economic statistics.” He further warned that politicizing economic data could erode public trust, stating, “US official statistics are the gold standard globally.” Beach noted that when political figures manipulate data, it damages the integrity of official statistics and government science.

The BLS is known for its rigorous methodology in producing employment estimates, revising past data to incorporate more accurate information as it becomes available. This transparency is crucial for informed decision-making by policymakers, businesses, and families, according to Beach.

As the political landscape shifts, the implications of Trump’s decision may reverberate across the economic sector. The ongoing debate around the integrity of economic reporting underscores the importance of maintaining an independent statistical process free from political influence.