President Donald Trump on Friday ordered the dismissal of Dr. Erika McEntarfer, Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in a move that sent shockwaves through political and financial circles. The firing came just hours after the release of a disappointing July jobs report that not only missed forecasts but also included substantial downward revisions to previously reported employment figures.
“I have directed my Team to fire this Biden Political Appointee, IMMEDIATELY,” Trump announced on social media Friday.
The July report showed a gain of just 73,000 nonfarm payroll jobs, far below economists’ expectations. Compounding concerns, the BLS revised its estimates for the previous two months downward by a combined 258,000 jobs, while the unemployment rate inched up to 4.2%.
In his social media posts, Trump accused McEntarfer—without presenting evidence—of having “faked the Jobs Numbers before the Election to try and boost Kamala’s chances of Victory,” referring to his 2024 Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris. He added, “Important numbers like this must be fair and accurate, they can’t be manipulated for political purposes.”
Appointed in January 2024, McEntarfer had held various senior roles in federal statistical agencies before becoming commissioner. Her dismissal represents a striking departure from precedent: since its founding in 1884, the BLS has maintained political independence, with data releases structured to avoid undue influence. Commissioners are appointed to four-year terms and confirmed by the Senate, and their positions have historically been insulated from partisan interference.
Trump, referring to the unexpected job number revisions, called them a “major mistake,” and pointed to similar downward corrections earlier in the year, stating they “always [go] to the negative.”
The market reaction was immediate. Stocks dropped sharply as investors responded to both the disappointing job data and the sudden change in leadership at a core government agency. U.S. bond yields also fell, as traders ramped up bets on potential Federal Reserve interest rate cuts—something Trump and several Republican allies have accused the Fed of timing to benefit Democrats, a charge the central bank has firmly rejected.
McEntarfer has not yet made a public statement. The White House has also not announced who will take over as interim or permanent commissioner.
