Trump’s firing of BLS commissioner decried as ‘groundless’ and ‘giving way to authoritarianism’

White House defends firing following worse-than-expected jobs report; Democratic senator says investigation is warranted

Last Updated: Aug. 3, 2025 at 10:13 p.m. ET
First Published: Aug. 3, 2025 at 4:31 p.m. ET

President Donald Trump’s firing of the Bureau of Labor Statistics official in charge of compiling jobs data was sharply criticized Sunday, with one former commissioner saying the move undermined the agency’s credibility.

On Friday, Trump fired BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer, claiming she was biased against him and that she rigged the numbers. That came after Friday’s July jobs report came in far below expectations. Trump presented no proof of wrongdoing, and a number of private-sector economists said Friday they saw no evidence of bias in the data. The BLS is generally considered a non-partisan agency.