WASHINGTON – The White House on Sunday defended President Donald Trump's decision to fire Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Commissioner Erika McEntarfer, a move that has sent shockwaves through economic and political circles and fueled accusations of politicizing a traditionally independent agency.

In a contentious television interview, National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett stated the president was acting within his authority. "The president was elected by the American people to implement his vision, and he wants his own people there to do it," Hassett said on CNN's "State of the Union." The comment confirmed that the dismissal was not performance-related but a matter of political alignment.

The firing of McEntarfer, a respected career economist who was confirmed by the Senate for a four-year term set to expire in 2027, is a significant break from historical precedent. The BLS is responsible for producing some of the nation's most critical economic data, including the monthly jobs report and the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures inflation.

The independence of the BLS commissioner is widely seen as essential to maintaining public and market trust in the impartiality of these figures.

A Tradition of Independence Under Threat

Economists and former government officials from both parties swiftly condemned the administration's move and its public justification. The position of BLS Commissioner has historically been treated as non-partisan, with commissioners often serving across administrations to ensure continuity and prevent political interference in data collection and reporting.

"This is a red line," said a former senior official from the agency who served under two different presidents. "The credibility of U.S. economic statistics rests entirely on the firewall between the data professionals and political officials. To say you want 'your own people' running the numbers is to announce an intention to dismantle that firewall."

The BLS operates as the principal fact-finding agency for the U.S. government in the broad field of labor economics and statistics. Its data influences decisions by the Federal Reserve on interest rates, informs congressional budget planning, and drives financial market activity worldwide. Any perception of manipulation could have severe economic consequences.

A Pattern of Questioning Data

Critics point to this decision as part of a broader pattern by President Trump of questioning or seeking to influence government data that he views as politically unfavorable. Throughout his first term and during his current presidency, Trump has at times dismissed official unemployment figures as "fake" or pressured agencies like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) over weather forecasts.

Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hill have already signaled their intent to investigate the firing. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden called the move "a brazen assault on the integrity of our economy" and vowed to hold hearings on the matter. "The American people, businesses, and investors rely on unbiased data from the BLS. This action jeopardizes the trust that underpins our entire economic system," Wyden said in a statement.

The White House has not yet announced a nominee to replace McEntarfer. The confirmation process for any new appointee is expected to be highly contentious, with senators likely to demand explicit commitments to uphold the agency's political independence.

Until a new commissioner is confirmed, the agency's career leadership will oversee the upcoming release of key reports, including the July jobs report due later this month. Analysts will be watching closely for any deviation in methodology or presentation, as the administration's actions have now cast a long shadow over the future of trusted U.S. economic data.