Trump’s Firing of Labor Statistician Draws Criticism from Predecessor

President Donald Trump's dismissal of Bureau of Labor Statistics chief Erika McEntarfer has sparked backlash from her predecessor, William Beach, who labeled the MOVE unfounded and damaging to the credibility of key economic data. The firing followed a weak jobs report that included downward revisions for May and June.

"This is damaging," Beach stated on CNN's State of the Union, emphasizing the potential erosion of trust in the BLS. He defended the agency's accuracy, noting improvements over past decades, and expressed continued confidence in its workforce as "some of the most loyal Americans you can imagine."

The abrupt termination prompted widespread criticism from economists and lawmakers, particularly after TRUMP dismissed the latest employment figures as "phony." Beach, whom McEntarfer replaced in January 2024, found no justification for the dismissal, warning it could undermine the statistical system's integrity.