President Donald Trump fired Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Erika McEntarfer on Friday, according to CNBC. The move followed July’s jobs report, which showed payrolls rose below estimates by just 73,000. Trump accused McEntarfer of manipulating data for political purposes, citing downward revisions to May and June job totals, though no evidence was provided. National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett defended the firing, calling the revisions a “historically important outlier,” and claimed Trump wanted someone who could ensure “more transparent and more reliable” reporting. Former BLS Commissioner William Beach called the firing “totally groundless” and said it sets a dangerous precedent. He said the decision is damaging and undermines the institution’s credibility. Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan said government surveys used for jobs data are no longer effective.
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