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Trump Fires Jobs Data Chief After Weaker-Than-Expected Employment Report
U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday dismissed Erika McEntarfer, the director of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), following the release of a disappointing jobs report that revealed a significant slowdown in hiring and sharp downward revisions to previous months’ employment figures.
The July employment report showed that just 73,000 jobs were added during the month, while revised estimates indicated 258,000 fewer jobs were created in May and June than initially reported. The figures prompted an immediate and controversial response from Trump, who claimed the data had been politically manipulated.
In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump accused McEntarfer—a Biden-era appointee—of deliberately skewing the data to harm his administration. “I have directed my Team to fire this Biden Political Appointee, IMMEDIATELY,” he wrote. “She will be replaced with someone much more competent and qualified.” Trump later added: “In my opinion, today’s Jobs Numbers were RIGGED in order to make the Republicans, and ME, look bad.”
While the president offered no evidence to support the allegations, his remarks ignited swift backlash from economists and former officials who warned of the long-term damage such accusations could cause to public trust in government data.
Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer later confirmed McEntarfer’s dismissal, announcing that William Wiatrowski, the bureau’s deputy commissioner, would assume the role of acting director. Chavez-DeRemer expressed her support for the president’s decision, stating the administration was committed to restoring trust in the BLS.
However, criticism came swiftly from a range of economists and past agency officials. The group Friends of BLS, which includes former BLS commissioners William Beach—appointed by Trump—and Erica Groshen, appointed under President Obama, issued a joint statement condemning the firing.
“This rationale for firing Dr. McEntarfer is without merit and undermines the credibility of federal economic statistics,” the group said. “Such actions threaten the integrity of data that guide economic decision-making across the country.”
Economist Arin Dube of the University of Massachusetts-Amherst warned that politicizing the BLS undermines the foundation of transparent governance. “Firing the Commissioner for a routine revision destroys trust in core American institutions,” he said.
The employment figures come amid broader signs of economic strain. Growth has slowed in the first half of the year, and a spike in inflation in June—widely attributed to Trump’s tariffs—has added pressure to households and markets.
Trump, who previously celebrated stronger preliminary job numbers in June, appeared to shift tone following the revised reports. “No one can be that wrong? We need accurate job numbers,” he wrote.
News
Investigation Underway After Goa Nightclub Fire Kills at Least 25
Authorities in the Indian state of Goa have opened an investigation into a nightclub fire that killed at least 25 people, including several tourists, in one of the region’s most popular party districts. Six others were injured in the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight in Arpora, a nightlife hub about 25 kilometres from the state capital, Panaji.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the death toll in a statement posted on X, saying the victims included many of the club’s kitchen staff and a small number of visiting tourists. He added that all the injured were in stable condition and receiving medical treatment. Rescue teams recovered all bodies from the site.
Early reports from local police, cited by the Press Trust of India, indicated that a gas cylinder explosion triggered the fire. Witnesses, however, told the agency that the blaze appeared to start on the club’s first floor, where nearly 100 tourists were dancing at the time. As smoke and flames swept through the building, many people ran toward the lower floor, where they became trapped along with staff members.
Sawant said a formal inquiry would determine the exact cause and whether the club complied with fire safety regulations. He pledged strict action against anyone found responsible, writing on X that any negligence uncovered by investigators would be “dealt with firmly”.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as patrons attempted to flee the burning building. “We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” said Fatima Shaikh, who was inside when the fire began.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a message on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening” and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Local media reported that the club’s location along the Arpora River backwaters posed challenges for emergency crews. A narrow approach road forced fire engines to park about 400 metres from the entrance, slowing their response. Reports also revealed that the building had previously received a demolition notice after officials found it lacked a construction permit. That order was later withdrawn by senior state authorities, according to Arpora councillor Roshan Redkar.
Incidents involving gas cylinders and electrical faults are not unusual in India and often lead to heavy casualties, prompting renewed calls for stronger enforcement of safety standards. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the tragedy as a “criminal failure of safety and governance” and urged a transparent investigation to establish accountability and prevent future disasters.
The probe into the fire is expected to assess structural safety, emergency exits and compliance with existing regulations as authorities work to piece together how the late-night gathering turned into one of the deadliest incidents in the state in recent years.
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