Trump says he will fire labor statistics chief after weak jobs report

President Trump announced his intention to fire the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics following the release of weaker-than-expected jobs reports for July and prior months. The Bureau of Labor Statistics confirmed Commissioner Erika McEntarfer's termination on Friday, naming William Wiatrowski as her interim replacement. This action is significant as government statistical agencies are typically insulated from political influence to ensure objective data collection. Trump accused McEntarfer, a career government official appointed during the Biden administration, of politically manipulating the job numbers. Her predecessor and a former Commerce Department official criticized the firing, calling it a dangerous precedent that undermines the agency's mission and the integrity of economic data. Trump stated on Truth Social that McEntarfer was a "Biden Political Appointee" who would be replaced by someone more competent and accused the jobs numbers of being rigged against him. While a White House economist suggested the BLS needed fresh eyes due to large revisions, he did not repeat the rigging accusation. The BLS is internationally recognized for its rigorous methodology, including a revision process considered crucial for transparency, even when preliminary figures are significantly altered. The job growth numbers are derived from a large monthly survey of employers, with revisions accounting for late-reported data and seasonal adjustments.