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Trump Dismisses BLS Chief Amid Job Data Controversy

2/6/2026

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Summary

Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump removed Erika McEntarfer, head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, after a July report showed 73,000 jobs added and downward revisions for May and June.
Trump alleged the data were manipulated for political reasons and pledged to replace McEntarfer with a more competent leader.
Former BLS commissioners criticized the move, arguing it undermines the credibility of U.S. economic data.
U.S. market indexes fell 1.5%.

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Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump removed Erika McEntarfer, head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, after a July report showed 73,000 jobs added and downward revisions for May and June.
Trump alleged the data were manipulated for political reasons and pledged to replace McEntarfer with a more competent leader.
Former BLS commissioners criticized the move, arguing it undermines the credibility of U.S. economic data.
U.S. market indexes fell 1.5%.