Trump fires Bureau of Labor Statistics chief, sparking concerns over data integrity

President Donald Trump’s abrupt dismissal of Erika McEntarfer, the Senate-confirmed commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), raised alarm among economists, former officials, and both Democratic and Republican lawmakers, reports the New York Times. The firing came hours after July’s jobs report revealed unexpectedly weak hiring and significant downward revisions to the prior two months’ employment data.

Citing unproven claims that the data were "rigged," President Trump took to social media on 1 August 2025 to announce McEntarfer's removal. The administration immediately installed William Wiatrowski, BLS deputy commissioner, as acting chief. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer reinforced the president’s stance online.

McEntarfer, appointed by President Biden in 2023 and confirmed with bipartisan support, including a "yes" from now-VP JD Vance, was known for her competent, nonpartisan approach in management roles at the Census Bureau and BLS. Economists say the dismissal could erode public trust in official government statistics at a critical time for economic policy and markets.

William W. Beach, BLS commissioner during Trump’s first term, labeled the firing "unfortunate" and warned it could set a dangerous precedent whereby statistical leadership becomes a scapegoat for unpopular data. BLS, responsible for key inflation and wages data, already faces pressures from shrinking budgets and falling survey response rates.