President Trump’s decision to fire the commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics over weak job numbers sent shockwaves across the Senate. Democrats responded with outrage over Trump’s announcement that he was dismissing Erika L. McEntarfer from the Department of Labor. McEntarfer was confirmed 86-8 in January 2024, including a yes vote from then-Sen. JD Vance. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said “Instead of trying to fix the economy, he shoots the messenger.” However, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) replied that he doesn’t believe economists half the time anyway. Doctoring job numbers would require a conspiracy across several government departments, as government statistics agencies are historically insulated from politics. Trump received unexpected and good news from the Fed, with Federal Reserve governor Adriana Kugler resigning her job next week, giving him an opening to fill this fall. Trump’s Truth Social post on firing McEntarfer included some of his customary taunts of Fed chair Jerome Powell, calling for the central bank’s board to “assume control” and lower interest rates on its own.
Trump’s Senate address on job numbers emphasizes the importance of not shooting the messenger.
