Trump Demands Firing of BLS Chief, Citing ‘Fake’ Jobs Numbers

Trump Slams Jobs Report as Politically Rigged

President Donald Trump on Friday unleashed a pair of fiery posts on Truth Social, accusing the Biden administration’s appointees of rigging the official jobs numbers to distort the state of the U.S. economy and influence elections. Trump specifically named Dr. Erika McEntarfer, the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and called for her “immediate” dismissal.

“I was just informed that our Country’s ‘Jobs Numbers’ are being produced by a Biden Appointee… who faked the Jobs Numbers before the Election to try and boost Kamala’s chances of Victory,” Trump wrote, referencing what he described as record-breaking overstatements in job growth prior to the 2024 election.

Trump Orders McEntarfer’s Removal

“I have directed my Team to fire this Biden Political Appointee, IMMEDIATELY,” Trump declared. He alleged that the same BLS had overstated jobs growth in March 2024 by 818,000 jobs, and by 112,000 in August and September of the same year. “No one can be that wrong,” he added. The former president also criticized the July 2025 report, saying the revised downward numbers showed a deliberate pattern of manipulation.

According to Trump, Dr. McEntarfer’s report that only 73,000 jobs were added in July was a “shock,” especially after BLS revised job gains from May and June down by a combined 258,000.

Broader Attacks on Powell and the Fed

In a second post, Trump expanded his criticism to include Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, accusing him of “playing games” with interest rates by lowering them just before the election. “Jerome ‘Too Late’ Powell should also be put ‘out to pasture,’” Trump wrote in another Truth Social post.

He suggested that both the Federal Reserve and the BLS were acting in coordination to boost Democratic prospects in the 2024 presidential race. Trump claimed, “Today’s Jobs Numbers were RIGGED in order to make the Republicans, and ME, look bad.”

BLS Stands by July Jobs Report

Earlier Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released its July 2025 Employment Report, showing that the U.S. economy added 73,000 nonfarm payroll jobs. The unemployment rate held steady at 4.2%, but the report highlighted a noticeable softening in job creation across most industries.

Job growth was concentrated in healthcare (+55,000) and social assistance (+18,000), while federal government jobs declined by 12,000. Revisions to previous months’ data revealed a combined downward adjustment of 258,000 jobs, which Trump pointed to as evidence of political interference.

The labor force participation rate held at 62.2%, while average hourly earnings rose 12 cents to $36.44. Despite gains in certain sectors, the broader job market has shown signs of cooling over the past quarter.

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