(The Hill) — Erika McEntarfer, the former commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), who was dismissed by President Donald Trump following a disappointing jobs report, expressed that it was the “honor of my life” to hold the position.
“Serving as Commissioner of BLS alongside the dedicated civil servants responsible for measuring a vast and dynamic economy has been the honor of my life,” McEntarfer shared in a message on the social media platform Bluesky. “Their work is vital and important, and I extend my gratitude for their service to this nation.”
Nominated by Biden in 2023 and confirmed by the Senate in 2024 with a bipartisan vote of 86-8, McEntarfer became the 16th commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, an agency within the Department of Labor. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, then serving as senators, voted in favor of her nomination.
McEntarfer’s post followed her dismissal by Trump last week, who cited “inaccuracies” and “incompetence” after a report showed low job growth for July.
President Trump, on Truth Social, accused McEntarfer of having “faked the Jobs Numbers” prior to the 2024 election to support former Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign.
“How can anyone be that wrong?” Trump questioned. “We need accurate Jobs Numbers. I have commanded my Team to dismiss this Biden Political Appointee, IMMEDIATELY. She will be replaced by an individual who is significantly more competent and qualified. These crucial numbers must be fair and precise; they cannot be manipulated for political reasons.”
Former BLS chief William Beach pushed back on the firing in a post on social media platform X on Friday, calling it “totally groundless” and saying it sets a “dangerous precedent and undermines the statistical mission of the Bureau.”
