US President Donald Trump on Friday fired Erika McEntarfer, the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), just hours after the agency released a disappointing jobs report.
In a post on his social media platform, Trump said McEntarfer — a Biden-era appointee — had been dismissed “IMMEDIATELY,” citing concerns over the credibility of the numbers. “Important numbers like this must be fair and accurate. They can’t be manipulated for political purposes,” he wrote.
The BLS report showed US non-farm payrolls increased by just 73,000 in July, with the previous two months revised downward by a combined 260,000 jobs. Over the past three months, average monthly job gains have dropped to 35,000 — the slowest pace since the COVID-19 pandemic.
McEntarfer’s abrupt dismissal has raised eyebrows across the political and economic spectrum, with several former officials — including those who served under Republican administrations — defending both her reputation and the BLS’s longstanding credibility.
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The BLS is regarded globally as a model for independent, non-partisan statistical reporting. Its monthly jobs data is a critical barometer for monetary policy, investor sentiment, and business planning, with trillions of dollars moving through markets in response to its releases.
McEntarfer was confirmed by the US Senate in January 2024 with broad bipartisan support, including a “yes” vote from conservative firebrand JD Vance. Her removal has renewed concerns that Trump — currently seeking re-election — could undermine institutional checks and politicise key economic levers.
In a statement to Bloomberg News, the BLS confirmed the termination. Deputy Commissioner William Wiatrowski will serve as acting head of the agency, according to Labour Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, whose department oversees the BLS.
Although the BLS commissioner is a presidential appointee, the agency has historically operated with a firewall between its data processes and political leadership.
