Trump Ousts BLS Chief After Disappointing Jobs Report

President Donald Trump has fired Erika McEntarfer, the Biden-appointed head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), after a July jobs report showed only 73,000 jobs added and significant downward revisions for prior months. Trump accused McEntarfer, without evidence, of manipulating the data to harm his administration and help Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, claiming the numbers were 'rigged.' The removal has sparked concern among economists, market analysts, and watchdogs about threats to the integrity and independence of U.S. economic data. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer confirmed McEntarfer's firing and appointed Deputy Commissioner William Wiatrowski as acting director during the search for a replacement. The move has intensified tensions between the Trump administration and independent economic agencies and further unsettled financial markets already shaken by weak job figures. Critics argue the firing is an attempt by Trump to control economic narratives ahead of the 2024 election.