Tue Aug 05 07:09:40 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

U.S. President Donald Trump fired Erika McEntarfer, head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), alleging that the latest jobs report was rigged. The BLS reported a gain of 187,000 jobs in July, with the unemployment rate at 3.8%. Trump disputed these figures, claiming manipulation. McEntarfer, a labor economist appointed during the Biden administration, was accused of downplaying economic gains. The dismissal has raised concerns about the integrity of official economic data and the independence of federal statistical agencies.

**News Article:**

**Trump Fires Head of Labor Statistics Amid ‘Rigged’ Jobs Report Claims**

**WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 5, 2025) -** President Donald Trump has dismissed Erika McEntarfer, the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), alleging manipulation of the latest U.S. jobs report. The controversial move has ignited a firestorm of debate over the reliability of official economic data and the autonomy of federal statistical agencies.

According to the BLS report released on August 2nd, the U.S. economy added 187,000 jobs in July, while the unemployment rate remained at 3.8%. While the report showed modest upward revisions for May and June numbers, Trump publicly rejected the figures, asserting they were “manipulated” to underestimate economic progress.

“Last weeks Job’s Report was RIGGED,” Trump posted on Truth Social, directing his team to immediately fire what he called “this Biden Political Appointee.”

Erika McEntarfer, a seasoned labor economist with a PhD in economics from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, served as Commissioner of the BLS since 2023. Her research focused on labor market dynamics and firm-worker interactions and has been published in numerous journals. She was appointed under the Biden administration and led the BLS through a period of post-pandemic labor market normalization.

The BLS compiles employment data using two surveys: the Establishment Survey, which covers approximately 119,000 businesses, and the Household Survey, which interviews about 60,000 households. These surveys undergo rigorous verification and adjustment to ensure accuracy.

The sudden dismissal of McEntarfer has drawn criticism from economists and political analysts who fear the move could undermine the credibility of vital economic indicators. The U.S. Department of Labor has yet to announce an interim replacement.

Read More