Trump Fires BLS Chief Amid Job Data Revisions, Agency Faces Leadership Crisis

President Donald Trump fired Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Commissioner Erika McEntarfer following a report showing a significant slowdown in U.S. job growth, accusing her without evidence of rigging the data to disadvantage Republicans and himself. Experts and former BLS officials have emphasized that the data collection and processing are insulated from political interference, making it effectively impossible for any commissioner to manipulate employment statistics. McEntarfer, a Biden appointee, had faced issues with large and unusual revisions to employment figures, which were unprecedented in recent decades but attributed to data collection challenges rather than partisanship. The BLS is currently struggling with resource constraints, declining survey response rates, and the impact of a federal hiring freeze imposed during Trump's administration, which have raised concerns about the quality and reliability of its data. The firing has created a leadership crisis at the agency, complicating efforts to restore trust and address systemic data collection problems amid heightened political scrutiny. Economists and former agency leaders warn that without increased funding and an independent commissioner, the BLS's ability to provide accurate economic indicators critical to policymakers and markets may be compromised.