Amid rising employment numbers for native-born Americans, President Donald Trump has criticized the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) over recent job report discrepancies.
According to Fox Business, job growth for American-born citizens surged by nearly 2 million over the past year, while foreign-born employment decreased, leading to Trump's critique of BLS over error and data allegations.
The BLS report shows that native-born workers saw a significant rise in employment from July 2024 to July 2025, with an increase of nearly 2 million jobs, amounting to a 1.52% rise. The total employment count for this group reached 133,035,000 in July 2025. This expansion came amid a decrease in employment opportunities for foreign-born individuals, who saw a contraction of 452,000 jobs over the same period—a drop of 1.39%.
President Trump expressed frustration over the BLS figures that indicated lower-than-expected job addition numbers for July 2025. The latest report stated an addition of only 74,000 jobs, falling well short of the anticipated 110,000. Furthermore, earlier reports for May and June 2025 were corrected down by 125,000 and 133,000 jobs, respectively.
Trump has publicly expressed his intention to remove the BLS Commissioner, Dr. Erika McEntarfar, pointing to alleged errors and potential data manipulation. In a post on Truth Social, Trump questioned the data's authenticity and linked it to political motives.
Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer remarked that "the promises made by the president" focused on American workers, and "that’s why you’re seeing American-born jobs be increased." She further emphasized that under the previous administration, a significant percentage of jobs went to foreign workers, while currently, the focus was redirected to citizens, stating, “they're being put first.”
The focus on American job growth showed signs in the latest numbers, which Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer linked to promises made by the administration to prioritize American workers. Chavez-DeRemer, speaking on the administration’s foreign job policy, emphasized transparency and accountability by contrasting current statistics to those from the previous presidency.
In expressing the administration's position, Chavez-DeRemer stated, “We see it in the numbers," highlighting American willingness to take on jobs previously given to foreign workers.
These discussions signal potential tremors within the BLS, as President Trump has emphasized a need for accuracy in reported statistics. Trump declared his directive to "fire this Biden Political Appointee IMMEDIATELY," pointing to the significant discrepancies and perceived lack of precision in recent reports.
Aside from native versus foreign worker dynamics, Trump's critique points to a larger concern of alleged data manipulation within the BLS, raising questions surrounding employment metrics. These allegations throw into relief the importance of reliable statistics in public policy and decision-making, amid a politically charged atmosphere.
Meanwhile, the adjustments in previously reported job growth numbers for both May and June represent significant corrections that have compounded concerns over the accuracy of these essential economic indicators.
The situation captures an intersection between politics and vital economic data, with potential ramifications expected as the issue progresses. The debate reflects broader narratives on domestic worker representation and foreign labor participation.
In conclusion, the year saw substantial native-born job growth, offset by foreign-born job declines, stirring political contention. President Trump's criticism of BLS over job report accuracy and calls for leadership changes spotlight discrepancies. The administration's focus on American workers' job market priorities and related statistical accuracy is poised to drive ongoing discussions.
