WASHINGTON DC: US President Donald Trump announced he would dismiss Erika McEntarfer, the head of the agency responsible for releasing key economic data, following a disappointing jobs report that intensified concerns about his tariff policies.
Trump accused McEntarfer—without providing proof—on social media of manipulating employment figures for political reasons. The move surprised Wall Street and raised fears about potential White House interference in economic statistics, especially as experts warn that tariffs may harm the US economy, BBC reported.
Global stock markets reacted negatively after Trump advanced plans to significantly increase tariffs on imports worldwide. In the US, major indices fell, with the S&P 500 closing 1.6% lower, following losses in European and Asian markets.
Ryan Sweet, chief US economist at Oxford Economics, expressed worry over the decision to remove the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) commissioner, emphasizing the importance of reliable economic data for businesses, which cannot easily be replaced by private sources. He called the firing “a step in a very bad direction” that could undermine trust in data integrity.
Trump has consistently defended his tariff strategy, claiming it will boost domestic manufacturing and correct trade imbalances. However, recent economic data and company reports highlighting the costs of tariffs have challenged those optimistic claims.
On Friday, the BLS revealed that US employers added only 73,000 jobs in July, and it sharply revised downward previous job growth estimates for May and June by 250,000 jobs.
Using these revisions as justification, Trump declared on social media: “We need accurate Jobs Numbers. I have directed my Team to fire this Biden Political Appointee, IMMEDIATELY.”
(Inputs from BBC)
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