Donald Trump’s recent decision to dismiss Dr. Erika McEntarfer, the Commissioner of Labor Statistics, has ignited a fierce backlash from prominent conservative figures and economists, who universally condemn the move as a dangerous politicization of objective data.
The controversy erupted after Trump publicly claimed on Friday that the latest jobs numbers were “RIGGED” to undermine Republicans and himself, implying that the figures had been “manipulated for political purposes.” He swiftly announced McEntarfer’s termination, asserting that despite what he perceived as negative statistics, the country was “doing GREAT!”
Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-Wy.) voiced strong disapproval, stating that it’s problematic if a president fires a statistician simply because they dislike accurate numbers. She emphasized that the statistician is not at fault if the data is precise but fails to meet presidential expectations.
Echoing similar sentiments, Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) remarked that those responsible “ought to grow up” if the director was fired solely due to a dislike for the reported figures, highlighting the maturity required in handling such official data.
Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) underscored the critical need for objective statistics, expressing concern that firing those who provide such data makes it significantly harder to form judgments based on numbers that are known to be unpoliticized. He initially commented that one “can’t really make the numbers different or better by firing the people doing the counting.”
Adding weight to the criticism, economist William Beach, a former BLS commissioner appointed by Trump during his first term, unequivocally denounced the firing. Beach asserted that the “totally groundless” dismissal of his successor, Dr. Erika McEntarfer, establishes a perilous precedent and fundamentally undermines the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ core mission of statistical integrity.
Douglas Holtz-Eakin, president of the center-right think tank American Action Forum, also weighed in, noting the unprecedented nature of the act. He highlighted that while the BLS has seen countless revisions and many commissioners, Trump is the “ONLY sitting President” to fire a BLS head, urging observers to “do the math” on the implications.
Further amplifying the concern, the “Friends of the Bureau of Labor Statistics” released a statement calling Trump’s accusations against McEntarfer “baseless” and “damaging.” They warned that the president’s actions constitute an attack on the “independence and integrity of the federal statistical system,” a cornerstone of public trust.
The contentious episode was not isolated, as Trump also targeted Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, whom he appointed, suggesting that Powell “should also be put ‘out to pasture,’” indicating a broader dissatisfaction with economic officials and their reporting.
