President Donald Trump has dismissed Steven McEntarfer, the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), after the release of a jobs report that fell short of expectations. Trump, known for his combative rhetoric, accused the BLS chief of rigging the data to make him appear worse, though he did not provide any evidence to back these claims. The firing comes amid ongoing tensions between the administration and federal agencies, with the Trump administration facing mounting pressure over its handling of economic data.
McEntarfer, who has been at the helm of the BLS since 2021, was known for his bipartisan approach to labor statistics. His dismissal has raised questions about the administration’s strategy regarding economic reporting, particularly in an election year. Critics argue that the accusation is an attempt to deflect from Trump’s administration’s economic policies, which have faced criticism for their impact on the labor market.
Analysts suggest that Trump’s public criticism of the BLS could undermine confidence in the agency’s data, which is crucial for policymakers and investors. The incident highlights the increasingly politicized nature of economic data in the United States, with the current administration using such data as a tool to shape public perception of its economic performance.