BLS Nomination Sparks Debate Over How America Tracks Its Economy

President Donald Trump has nominated E.J. Antoni, chief economist at the Heritage Foundation, to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)—the federal agency that publishes essential data on jobs, wages, and inflation.

About the nomination:

Trump shared the announcement on Truth Social, writing, “Our economy is booming, and E.J. will ensure that the numbers released are honest and accurate.” This change follows his removal of BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer earlier this month after a July jobs report showed disappointing growth and downward revisions. Trump called the numbers “rigged,” though no evidence has been provided.

Antoni’s perspective:

A vocal critic of the agency’s monthly jobs reports, Antoni has suggested pausing these in favor of quarterly updates—what he calls less timely but more reliable. “Major decisionmakers from Wall Street to D.C. rely on these numbers,” he told Fox News Digital. “A lack of confidence in the data has far-reaching consequences.”

What the experts say:

For decades, the BLS—part of the Labor Department—has been trusted because of its meticulous data collection and review. Most economists attribute recent large-scale revisions to post-pandemic issues like survey delays and lower response rates. Antoni, however, is among a minority who argue the agency has “massaged” data to favor Democrats and disadvantage Republicans.

What’s next:

The Republican-controlled Senate must confirm Antoni. The Wall Street Journal reports that former Trump adviser Steve Bannon supported his nomination. Some critics, including conservative economists, have questioned his suitability. Kyle Pomerleau of the American Enterprise Institute wrote on social media: “There are a lot of competent conservative economists that could do this job. E.J. is not one of them.”