BLS chief Trump accused of data fraud responds to firing

(NewsNation) — The former Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner has responded to her unexpected firing by President Donald Trump, who had accused her of manipulating job numbers to help Kamala Harris get elected.

"It has been the honor of my life to serve as Commissioner of BLS alongside the many dedicated civil servants tasked with measuring a vast and dynamic economy," Erika McEntarfer said on Bluesky, a social media app, Friday. "It is vital and important work and I thank them for their service to this nation."

Trump responded to the lackluster July jobs report by directing his team to fire McEntarfer.

U.S. employers added 73,000 jobs last month, short of the 115,000 forecasters expected. But Friday’s Labor Department data revealed a more troubling trend: The job market has been much softer than many realized.

“She will be replaced with someone much more competent and qualified,” Trump wrote on Truth Social Friday.

There’s no evidence McEntarfer, who was nominated by former President Joe Biden, manipulated any data, and revisions are a normal part of the Labor Department’s standard reporting process.