Trump fires US labor official over data
In a separate development, Federal Reserve Governor Adriana Kugler unexpectedly announced her resignation, offering Trump an earlier-than-expected opportunity to reshape the central bank's leadership. The twin announcements rattled markets, with the S&P 500 dropping 1.6%, its steepest fall in over two months.
Trump targeted Erika McEntarfer, a Biden appointee, claiming she falsified employment figures. No proof supports his allegations against the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which produces key economic indicators like jobs and inflation data. A BLS representative declined to comment.
The July jobs report showed only 73,000 new positions, with downward revisions erasing 258,000 previously reported jobs for May and June. 'We need accurate Jobs Numbers,' Trump posted on Truth Social, ordering McEntarfer's immediate replacement.
A Trump administration official, speaking anonymously, cited dissatisfaction with recent data revisions and declining survey response rates. The BLS has scaled back data collection for inflation metrics due to resource constraints. Response rates for employment surveys fell from 80.3% in 2020 to 67.1% last month.
A Reuters poll revealed 89 of 100 policy experts worry about U.S. data quality, with many criticizing the lack of urgency in addressing issues. Reduced BLS staffing has also narrowed the scope of Consumer Price Index reporting, a critical inflation measure.
'Politicizing economic statistics is a self-defeating act,' warned Michael Madowitz of the Roosevelt Institute. 'Credibility is far easier to lose than rebuild.'
Meanwhile, Kugler's departure lets Trump appoint a Fed governor ahead of schedule. The president has repeatedly clashed with Chair Jerome Powell over interest rates. Potential successors include Trump adviser Kevin Hassett and former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh.
'I would not read any political motivation into [Kugler's] decision,' said analyst Derek Tang. 'But she's calling Trump's bluff by handing him a vacancy to fill.' - Reuters
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
UK threatens jail for people smugglers who advertise on social media
Migrants walk along the road after attempting to leave the French coast to cross the English Channel to reach Britain, as tougher migration controls were announced, in Wimereux, near Boulogne-sur-Mer, France, July 18, 2025. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo LONDON (Reuters) -People smugglers who use social media to promote their services to migrants seeking to enter Britain illegally could face five years in prison under plans announced by the government. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour government is under huge political and public pressure to cut the number of migrants arriving illegally in small boats from France. More than 25,000 people have made the crossing so far this year. Analysis by the Interior Ministry showed around 80% of migrants arriving on small boats had used social media during their journey to find or communicate with people smugglers. Under a new offence, which will be added to legislation already passing through parliament, individuals who post online to advertise services that facilitate a breach of immigration laws will face fines and prison sentences of up to five years. It is already an offence to facilitate illegal immigration to Britain, but the government said its latest plan would give law enforcement agencies another option to disrupt the criminal gangs that profit from organising the crossings. Last month, the government launched a new sanctions regime allowing it to freeze assets, impose travel bans and block access to the country's financial system for individuals and entities involved in enabling irregular migration. (Reporting by William James; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
Iran army chief warns of ongoing Israeli threats amid tensions
DUBAI: Iran's military commander-in-chief Amir Hatami has warned that threats from Israel remain active, as reported by state media. The remarks follow heightened tensions between the two nations, including strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June and subsequent retaliatory missile and drone attacks by Tehran. Hatami emphasized vigilance, stating that even a minimal threat should be treated as significant. 'A 1% threat must be perceived as a 100% threat. 'We should not underestimate the enemy and consider its threats as over,' he said, according to the official IRNA news agency. He also affirmed Iran's military readiness, noting that its missile and drone capabilities 'remain standing and ready for operations.' The comments come after Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a warning last month, indicating that Israel would strike Iran again if provoked. The exchange underscores the volatile security dynamics in the region, with both nations maintaining a posture of deterrence. - Reuters
The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
Russian missile attack injures seven in Mykolaiv, Ukraine says
(Reuters) -A Russian missile strike on the city of Mykolaiv in southern Ukraine injured at least seven people and destroyed or damaged dozens of homes and civilian infrastructure buildings, the regional governor said on Sunday. Two of the injured were hospitalised as a result of the late Saturday attack, Mykolaiv Governor Vitaliy Kim said on the Telegram messaging app. Kim posted photos showing single residential buildings almost destroyed, with building debris spread around. He said 23 private homes, 12 apartment buildings and a post office were damaged. Reuters could not independently verify the report. There was no immediate comment from Russia about the attack. Both sides deny targeting civilians in the war that Moscow launched with a full-scale invasion on Ukraine in February 2022. Ukraine's air force said on Telegram that Russia had launched 76 attack drones and seven missiles targeting Ukraine overnight, striking eight locations throughout Ukraine. Ukraine's air defence units destroyed 60 of the drones and one missile, it said. In the early days of the war, the Mykolaiv region stood on the front lines, facing frequent artillery strikes and aerial attacks. Even after Russian forces were pushed back in late 2022, drones and missiles have remained a constant danger to communities. In the front-line regions of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, at least three people were killed and more than 12 injured as a result of Russia's attacks over the 24 hours into Sunday morning, regional governors said. Russia also launched a short-lived missile attack on Kyiv overnight, but there were no reports of injuries or damage. (Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by William Mallard)
