Peeved By Weak Jobs Numbers, Trump Fires Labor Official

President Trump lashed out at the state of the labor market, claiming without evidence that the jobs data were “rigged” and announcing he had fired the Senate-confirmed Department of Labor official responsible for compiling the monthly numbers, Ben Casselman and Tony Romm reported for The New York Times.

Former officials and economists warned it would erode trust in government data and make it harder for policymakers, investors, and businesses to make informed decisions. (Photo: United States Department of Labor)

In a lengthy social media post, Trump said he had ordered the firing of Erika McEntarfer, the commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), who had been confirmed with bipartisan support in 2024.

Emily Liddel, an associate commissioner at the bureau, confirmed late Friday that Dr. McEntarfer had been dismissed and that William Wiatrowski, the deputy commissioner, would serve as acting head.

Trump’s decision came after the BLS released monthly data showing unexpectedly weak hiring in July and significant downward revisions to job growth in the previous two months.

Economists widely interpreted the report as a sign that Trump’s policies were beginning to drag on the economy.

Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer echoed Trump’s criticism of Dr. McEntarfer in a post online. “So you know what I did?” Trump later told reporters, referring to the job numbers as “phony.”

“I fired her—and you know what? I did the right thing.”

The firing drew swift condemnation from economists, former officials, and others, who warned it would erode trust in government data and make it harder for policymakers, investors, and businesses to make informed decisions.

William W. Beach, who led the BLS during Trump’s first term, called the move regrettable.

“It’s unfortunate,” he said. “This could set a precedent where bad news on many different fronts is a reason for dismissing a person,” Sydney Ember also reported for The New York Times.