Trump fires Biden labor official over negative job report, calls numbers ‘rigged’

President Trump, upset at Friday’s job numbers, said he fired the Biden-appointed Labor Department official in charge of compiling employment data. Here’s what you need to know about the labor statistics commissioner firing:

The firing announcement

Trump ousts labor statistics commissioner immediately:

• President fired Erika McEntarfer, commissioner of Labor Statistics, effective immediately
• Trump upset at Friday’s job numbers showing economic slowdown
• Accused McEntarfer of fudging labor reports to damage his administration
• Also accused her of boosting VP Kamala Harris’ chances ahead of last year’s election

The “rigged” accusation

Trump claims job numbers manipulated for political purposes:

• Said jobs numbers reported Friday were “rigged” to make Republicans look bad
• Called employment data “a total scam”
• Vowed to replace McEntarfer with someone “much more competent and qualified”
• Accused Bureau of Labor Statistics of faking numbers before election

The Trump Truth Social statement

President detailed his accusations on social media:

• “This is the same Bureau of Labor Statistics who faked the jobs numbers before the election”
• Accused bureau of overstating job growth in 2024 by approximately 818,000
• Also cited overstating before 2024 election in August and September by 112,000
• “These were records — no one can be that wrong? We need accurate jobs numbers”

The July jobs report

Friday’s employment data showed significant slowdown:

• Bureau of Labor Statistics reported U.S. added 73,000 jobs in July
• Figure represented slowdown from 147,000 jobs added in June
• Fell below analysts’ expectations of 100,000 jobs created
• Report showed notable slowdown in hiring last month

The revision revelations

Previous months’ hiring much weaker than reported:

• Report revealed hiring in May and June much weaker than previously reported
• Revisions showed employers added combined 258,000 fewer jobs in May and June
• Numbers were significantly lower than originally estimated
• Downward revisions compound concerns about economic momentum

The unemployment increase

Jobless rate ticks higher but meets expectations:

• Report showed unemployment increased to 4.2% from 4.1% in June
• Unemployment rate increase in line with analysts’ estimates
• Rate increase comes amid broader hiring slowdown
• Still within range economists consider healthy

Trump’s continued criticism

President emphasized need for accurate, unmanipulated data:

• “Important numbers like this must be fair and accurate”
• “They can’t be manipulated for political purposes”
• Noted McEntarfer reported “only 73,000 jobs added (a shock!)”
• Emphasized “major mistake was made by them, 258,000 jobs downward in the prior two months”

The replacement process

Bureau confirms firing and interim leadership:

• Bureau of Labor Statistics spokesperson confirmed McEntarfer terminated Friday
• Deputy Commissioner William Wiatrowski will serve as acting commissioner
• Trump claims “The economy is booming under Trump”
• President says similar negative revisions happened earlier in year

The Democratic response

Oregon senator leads criticism of firing:

• Sen. Ron Wyden, top Democrat on Finance Committee, said Trump “afraid to own up to reality”
• “Trump wants to cook the books” according to Wyden
• “Trump can’t get through a single day without making some catastrophic decision”
• Democrats incensed over the firing

McEntarfer’s track record

Commissioner’s tenure marked by several data release problems:

• Bureau of Labor Statistics criticized for series of missteps under her leadership
• Agency put under scrutiny for various incidents
• Panel of experts found no dishonest or nefarious motives
• Experts still raised red flags about agency performance

The data release incidents

Multiple problems occurred during McEntarfer’s leadership:

• April 2024 Consumer Price Index data posted 30 minutes early
• Early release raised concerns about moving U.S. Treasury market
• Bureau economist shared undisclosed technical calculations with private-sector economists
• August 2024 nonfarm payroll revisions posted 30 minutes late but appeared on social media first

Read more:

• Trump fires Biden labor official over negative job report