President Accuses Labor Statistics Leader of Political Bias
President Donald Trump has removed the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), accusing her of misreporting job data in favor of the Biden administration. Trump claims the job numbers were manipulated to boost Vice President Kamala Harris’s 2024 election chances.
Dr. Erika McEntarfer, a Biden appointee and Commissioner of Labor Statistics, was dismissed on Friday. Trump announced the decision through his Truth Social platform.
Trump Claims Job Numbers Were “Fake” Before the Election
According to Trump, the BLS published job reports that were heavily overstated before the 2024 presidential election. He pointed to March 2024 data, which he said inflated job growth by over 800,000 positions. In the following months, August and September, he claimed the numbers were again off by more than 100,000.
“These are not minor mistakes,” Trump wrote. “They’re massive errors that helped Kamala Harris during the campaign. That’s unacceptable.”
Trump said he ordered her immediate removal and promised to install someone more accurate and reliable.
“We’re replacing her with someone truly qualified. These numbers should never be used for political games,” he said.
Downward Revisions Spark More Questions
In one of the latest reports, McEntarfer reported only 73,000 new jobs — a figure Trump called “shocking.” Even more concerning to him were previous downward revisions totaling 258,000 lost jobs over the prior two months.
Trump claimed similar errors happened earlier in the year — always in a way that minimized economic success under his leadership.
Trump Also Criticizes the Federal Reserve
Trump extended his criticism to the Federal Reserve, saying it manipulated interest rates to affect the 2024 election.
“They cut rates twice just before the vote — clearly trying to help Kamala. That didn’t work,” Trump wrote.
He referred to Fed Chair Jerome Powell as “Too Late” Powell and suggested he should be replaced.
Trump Says He’s Always Distrusted Official Job Data
Speaking to reporters later in the day, Trump said he had been suspicious of job statistics long before the latest controversy.
“I’ve had a problem with these numbers for a while,” he said. “I asked, ‘Who actually puts these together?’ And now I know.”
Trump has previously criticized the Bureau of Labor Statistics. During his 2016 campaign, he claimed unemployment was much higher than reported. In 2024, he again accused the Biden administration of hiding the economy’s real condition.
Trump Previously Praised Job Reports That Favored Him
Despite the current criticism, Trump’s team has praised BLS reports when they reflected positively on his administration. In 2017, then–Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the numbers were “no longer phony.” Just last month, current Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt celebrated that Trump’s economic record had surpassed expectations in four straight reports.
Economists React to Trump’s Move
The firing sparked strong responses from economists and government officials.
Jason Furman, a Harvard professor and economic advisor under President Obama, called the firing troubling.
“Questioning the integrity of independent data is reckless. The economy depends on accurate information,” he said.
Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, shared similar concerns.
“The BLS operates with the highest standards,” Zandi said. “Casting doubt on that can be dangerous.”
Labor Secretary Backs Trump’s Decision
However, not everyone disagreed with the move. U.S. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer supported the president’s action.
“There have been serious reporting errors,” she posted on X. “The public deserves reliable and nonpartisan data. I stand behind the president’s decision.”
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