Dear Editor,
On Aug. 1, 2025, it was reported that U.S. hiring had slowed sharply during the month of July. Mr. Trump claimed the figures were manipulated for political reason and fired the director of Labor Statistics, Erika McEntarfer, a graduate of Virginia Tech.
Trump stated,” I have directed my Team to fire this Biden political appointee, IMMEDIATELY. She will be replaced with someone much more competent and capable.”
Trump says McEntarfer was faking the jobs numbers for political reasons.
Dr. McEntarfer has served with the federal government for the last 20 years. During that time, she has work at the census bureau, the executive office of the President and the Department of Treasury.
Erika, a Biden appointee, was confirmed with bipartisan support early this year, as she is highly respected labor economist.
McEntarfer has been the Commissioner of Labor Statistics for the last two years.
She graduated from Bard College (top producer of Fulbright Scholars) and received her doctorate of Economics from Virginia Tech.
It bothers me that Mr. Trump feels that someone who received a doctorate in Economics from Virginia Tech was not qualified and was a just a political appointee.
I hope, as a VT graduate myself, that I am not the only one who feels hurt by this accusation of Mr. Trump.
Steve Huppert
Christiansburg
