Former leaders of the Bureau of Labor Statistics and multiple non-partisan economic organizations have condemned President Trump’s termination of BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer. The commissioner was dismissed following the release of employment data indicating that job growth had decelerated during the summer months.
Trump asserted without supporting evidence that McEntarfer had manipulated employment figures ahead of the 2024 presidential election to benefit Kamala Harris and characterized the recent data as “rigged” to reflect negatively on Trump and Republicans. The Trump administration has reiterated these allegations, with National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett suggesting the firing was justified based on perceived resistance to Trump’s agenda throughout federal agencies.
Friends of BLS, a group led by former commissioners Erica Groshen and William Beach, issued a statement opposing the dismissal and calling on Congress to investigate the circumstances surrounding McEntarfer’s removal. The organization stated that the rationale for the firing “is without merit and undermines the credibility of federal economic statistics that are a cornerstone of intelligent economic decision-making by businesses, families, and policymakers.” The Association of Public Data Users, National Association for Business Economics, and American Economic Association similarly criticized the action, asserting that disliking data is not a lawful basis for removing a commissioner appointed to a four-year term.
Beach, who served as BLS commissioner during Trump’s first administration from 2019 to 2023, characterized the firing as establishing “a dangerous precedent and undermines the statistical mission of the Bureau.” Former BLS Commissioner Kathleen Utgoff, who served under the George W Bush administration, emphasized that accurate economic data is essential for informed decision-making by workers, businesses, policymakers, and voters. Republican senators Rand Paul, Thom Tillis, and Cynthia Lummis have also questioned the justification for McEntarfer’s termination.
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