Washington, D.C. – President Donald Trump announced the firing of Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Commissioner Erika McEntarfer on August 1, 2025, just hours after the agency released a jobs report that included significant downward revisions to previous employment figures. The move has sparked widespread concern among economists and former government officials regarding the independence and nonpartisan integrity of federal statistical agencies.
The BLS reported that the U.S. economy added only 73,000 jobs in July, a figure far below expectations, and revised down May and June's employment growth by a combined 258,000 jobs. President Trump accused Commissioner McEntarfer, a Biden appointee, of manipulating the numbers for "political purposes," a claim made without evidence. Experts from across the political spectrum have defended the BLS's methodologies and the professionalism of its career civil servants.
Social psychologist and author Jonathan Haidt, a former computer programmer at the BLS, weighed in on the situation, stating on social media, > "I worked at BLS before grad school, as a computer programmer. It is and has always been a serious, professional, nonpartisan agency." Haidt further warned against the implications of such actions, adding, > "When you shoot those who bring news you don't want to hear, you set your team up for structural stupidity. No feedback from reality."
The Bureau of Labor Statistics is widely regarded as a nonpartisan agency, with its data crucial for businesses, government officials, and the public to make informed economic decisions. Jason Furman, a Harvard professor and former Obama economic adviser, stated, "It’s outrageous for anyone in government to question the integrity of the BLS." The agency's commitment to impartiality is underscored by its practice of scheduling major data releases more than a year in advance.
Former BLS Commissioners William Beach and Erica Groshen, along with Paul Schroeder of the Council of Professional Associations on Federal Statistics, issued a joint statement calling the manipulation claims "baseless." They urged Congress to investigate McEntarfer's removal and ensure the nonpartisan integrity of the position is retained, emphasizing that politicizing the agency undermines trust in federal statistics. This incident highlights ongoing concerns about the independence of institutions responsible for critical economic data.