U.S. President Donald Trump has dismissed Erika McEntarfer, the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), following the release of weaker‑than‑expected July jobs data and downward revisions to prior months.
Trump accused McEntarfer of “skewing data for political purposes,” prompting her removal. The BLS confirmed the firing and announced that William Wiatrowski has been appointed as acting director.
The July report showed the U.S. economy added just 73,000 jobs, significantly below forecasts, while job growth estimates for May and June were sharply revised down.
Former BLS Director William Beach criticized the move, warning that politicizing statistical agencies “undermines the BLS’s statistical mission and public trust in labor data.”