Senator Padilla Criticizes Trump for Politicizing the Bureau of Labor Statistics

During an appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press," Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) criticized President Donald Trump's decision to dismiss Erika McEntarfer, the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), characterizing it as an attempt to politicize the agency. Host Kristen Welker inquired whether Padilla would trust upcoming BLS data given the recent leadership change, to which the senator responded that confirmation hearings would determine if the new appointee would uphold the agency's independence or serve political interests. Padilla emphasized the need for an investigation, likening the situation to previous concerns about Trump allegedly weaponizing government agencies, and expressed doubt about the accuracy of economic claims amid rising prices.