On August 1, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump removed Erika McEntarfer, the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), following the release of a disappointing monthly employment report.
The report showed that the U.S. economy added only 73,000 jobs in July, with significant downward revisions for May and June, reducing previously reported gains by a combined 258,000 jobs.
Erika, appointed by former President Joe Biden in 2023 and confirmed by the Senate in early 2024, was the only political appointee in the BLS, an agency otherwise staffed by career civil servants.
Commissioners typically serve four-year terms, but as political appointees, they can be dismissed at the president’s discretion.
Allegations by Donald Trump of Data Manipulation Without Evidence
President Donald Trump announced the dismissal via his social media platform, Truth Social, alleging that the employment figures had been “manipulated for political reasons” to damage his administration’s image.
“I have directed my Team to fire this Biden Political Appointee, IMMEDIATELY,” he wrote. “She will be replaced with someone much more competent and qualified”.
Despite the strong accusations, Trump provided no evidence to support claims of data tampering.
Economists and market analysts have long considered BLS data to be among the most reliable and impartial sources of economic information globally.
Revisions to employment figures are standard practice, often based on updated data and seasonal adjustments.
Market Reaction and Political Fallout
The employment report triggered a 1.5% drop in U.S. market indexes, reflecting investor concerns over slowing job growth and broader economic uncertainty.
The unemployment rate ticked up slightly to 4.2%, from 4.1% the previous month.
Democratic leaders and former BLS officials condemned the dismissal.
Chuck Schumer, Senate Democratic Leader, criticized the move, stating, “What does a bad leader do when they get bad news? Shoot the messenger”.
A bipartisan group of former BLS commissioners also issued a statement defending Erika and warning that the firing undermines the credibility of federal economic statistics.
Acting Commissioner Appointed Amid Uncertainty
Following Erika’s removal, Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer announced that William Wiatrowski, the BLS Deputy Commissioner, would serve as Acting Director.
She expressed support for the president’s decision, emphasizing the need for public trust in economic data.
The incident adds to growing concerns about political interference in traditionally independent government agencies.
Critics argue that the move could erode confidence in federal data and set a troubling precedent for future administrations.
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