Largest Downward Jobs Revision Mostly Came on Biden’s Watch, Raises More Questions About Embattled Federal Agency

The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics released the largest downward jobs revision in its history Tuesday, raising further questions about the embattled federal agency.

The downward revision for the 12-month period ending March 2025 suggests the economy added about half as many jobs per month as previously thought.

The move comes amid already hefty criticism from the White House, where President Donald Trump has nominated Heritage Foundation Chief Economist EJ Antoni to head the bureau.

The bureau’s report estimated that the U.S. economy actually gained 911,000 fewer jobs over the 12 months ending March 2025 than previously reported.

“This staggering 911,000 downward revision in jobs data marks the largest such correction in history, underscoring the urgent need for change and new leadership at the Bureau of Labor Statistics,” Richard Stern, acting director at Heritage’s Institute for Economic Policy Studies, told The Daily Signal in a statement Tuesday. “BLS must refine its data collection methods to produce more accurate numbers.”

“Notably, 10 of the 12 months encompassed by massive errors in this report fall under the Biden administration, casting a stark spotlight on the economic challenges and persistent headwinds inherited from the previous administration’s policies, which have profoundly impacted hardworking Americans,” Stern added.

The largest downward revisions came in leisure and hospitality (176,000 jobs), professional and business services (158,000 jobs), and retail trade (126,200 jobs).

According to The Wall Street Journal, the estimated job gains during those 12 months averaged 147,000 jobs per month. This revised number of almost 76,000 fewer jobs per month takes away more than half of the monthly gains that were originally reported.

The revision comes as the White House is said to be preparing a report laying out alleged shortcomings of Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the Journal reported.

Trump fired former bureau Commissioner Erika McEntarfer last month, following a weak jobs report. He nominated Antoni to replace her.

The president has repeatedly criticized the BLS.

“The Economy is BOOMING under ‘TRUMP,’ but the Bureau of Labor Statistics has RIGGED the numbers to make the Republicans, and ME, look bad,” he posted on Truth Social last month.

Cody Sargent, Heritage’s director of media and public relations, noted that this downward revision is “the largest error in BLS history.”

“Sure seems like firing the commissioner was warranted,” he quipped.

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