- Trump called July’s weak jobs report “rigged” and fired BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer, prompting bipartisan backlash.
- Critics warn that politicizing data undermines trust in economic statistics crucial for businesses, markets, and policy.
- Trump defended the firing, while former officials and lawmakers pushed back, calling it unfounded and dangerous.
President Donald Trump sparked backlash Monday after calling July’s jobs report “rigged” in a Truth Social post, just days after firing Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Commissioner Erika McEntarfer. The report showed only 73,000 jobs added—well below the 100,000 estimate—and a rise in the unemployment rate to 4.2%. It also included major downward revisions to previous months, cutting 258,000 jobs from May and June figures. Critics say the firing threatens the perceived independence of one of the government’s most trusted statistical agencies.
Trump Doubles Down on Claims of Political Manipulation
In his post, Trump claimed the numbers were “concocted” to make his administration look bad. “The jobs report was rigged, just like before the election,” he wrote. “Massive revisions were made to cover up the fake political numbers.” While Trump has promised to appoint a “stellar replacement,” no evidence has been offered to support the claim that BLS staff falsified or manipulated data. The July report did hurt Trump’s economic narrative, but experts warn that politicizing data can erode public trust.
Bipartisan Condemnation and Public Defenses
Trump’s move drew criticism from across the political spectrum. Former BLS head William Beach, a Trump appointee, called the firing “totally groundless.” Senators Rand Paul and Cynthia Lummis, both Republicans, expressed concerns about the integrity of federal statistics. Meanwhile, Democrats like Amy Klobuchar and Alex Padilla went further, calling for an investigation. Trump economic adviser Kevin Hassett defended the decision, citing “massive” past revisions, but acknowledged the report could have simply included a typo.
Fallout and Next Steps for the White House
McEntarfer responded with grace on Bluesky, describing her work at BLS as “the honor of my life.” The Friends of the Bureau of Labor Statistics issued a statement warning that politicizing the agency risks destroying the trust that underpins global economic analysis. Trump said he would name a new BLS commissioner within “three to four days,” even as both economists and lawmakers worry about how this precedent could affect future jobs reporting and public confidence in economic data.
