The recent dismissal of Erika McEntarfer, head of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), has drawn considerable attention and sparked debate. The decision by the current administration has been defended by the former president, who leveled accusations of manipulation of employment data against Ms. McEntarfer.
In a statement released on Truth Social, the former president alleged that Ms. McEntarfer artificially inflated job creation figures prior to the 2024 presidential election, presenting what he described as a “record increase in jobs”. He further claimed that these figures were subsequently revised downward by almost one million positions after the election, an action he labeled “fraud”. The statement also characterized Ms. McEntarfer’s performance as representing “the largest miscalculations in over 50 years.
The controversial personnel decision followed the release of a disappointing July 2025 labor market report, which indicated only approximately 73,000 new jobs – significantly below analysts’ expectations of 110,000. Additionally, figures for May and June were retrospectively adjusted downward by a total of 258,000 positions.
Following the announcement, Democratic figures have criticized the action, portraying it as a move toward authoritarian tactics. Kevin Hassett, a former BLS director, also voiced sharp criticism of the decision. The events have prompted questions about the integrity and independence of government statistical agencies and the potential influence of political considerations in their operation.
