Trump Fires Labor Statistics Chief After Weaker Jobs Report

President Donald Trump has fired Dr. Erika McEntarfer, the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, accusing her of manipulating employment data to favor Vice President Kamala Harris and overstating job growth figures, particularly citing discrepancies in the 2024 jobs reports. This decision came after a disappointing July jobs report showing only 73,000 new jobs added, with revisions downward of prior months and an unemployment rate increase to 4.2%, which unsettled financial markets. Trump also criticized Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, accusing the Fed of manipulating interest rates to benefit Harris's campaign. The firing represents a rare and politically charged challenge to the credibility of U.S. labor statistics, raising concerns about government transparency and economic management ahead of the 2024 election. Meanwhile, the controversy has intensified debates about economic policy and labor data reliability amid turbulent market reactions and political tensions. Additionally, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting announced it will cease operations following funding cuts linked to the Trump administration's policies.