Donald Trump’s nomination of E.J. Antoni to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), after firing the previous commissioner following a weak jobs report, has concerned a number of economists who believe the young conservative lacks the experience or neutrality required of the country’s top employment statistician.
“Our Economy is booming, and E.J. will ensure that the Numbers released are HONEST and ACCURATE,” the president posted to Truth Social on Monday.
Why It Matters
The firing of Erika McEntarfer, who had served as the BLS commissioner since January 2024, resulted in widespread criticism from economists and lawmakers, with former Commissioner William Beach warning that this could undermine the bureau’s trustworthiness and “statistical mission.”
It also aroused fears that Trump was attempting to politicize the agency, which publishes critical data on employment and inflation, by replacing its leadership with more ideologically aligned figures.
What To Know
On August 1, the BLS released its July report on non-farm payroll employment, which found that the U.S. economy had added only 73,000 jobs during the month, well below analysts’ expectations. Additionally, the bureau revised down data for May and June by a total of 258,000 jobs.
Trump accused McEntarfer, a Biden appointee, of manipulating the figures “for political purposes,” and fired her from the post.
BLS figures are compiled by a 40-strong group of statisticians, and commissioners have “no access to the underlying data or to the curating and estimation process,” former BLS Commissioner Erica Groshen told Newsweek.
The White House told NBC News last week it would choose a candidate with “tremendous credibility and experience.” However, a number of economists have already voiced skepticism that McEntarfer’s replacement meets these qualifications.
“I don’t think I have ever publicly criticized any Presidential nominee before. But E.J. Antoni is completely unqualified to be BLS Commissioner,” Harvard economist and former chair of Barack Obama‘s Council of Economic Advisers Jason Furman posted on X.
“He is an extreme partisan and does not have any relevant expertise,” Furman added. “He would be a break from decades of nonpartisan technocrats.”
“EJ Antoni has never worked in statistics collection. He is 5 years out of his PhD,” independent economic analyst Joey Politano posted on X, adding that Antoni’s “only qualifications” are his past work with “ultra-conservative think tanks.”
Antoni currently serves as chief economist for The Heritage Foundation, a prominent conservative think tank headquartered in Washington, D.C., that was listed among the contributors to Project 2025. This 900-page document presents a blueprint for implementing a comprehensive conservative agenda in the U.S. and became a significant flashpoint in the 2024 presidential election.
Antoni is also a longtime critic of the agency he has now been nominated to lead. In July, he called BLS figures on health insurance prices “phony baloney numbers” on X, and, in November, urged the Department of Government Efficiency to “take a chainsaw to the BLS.”
“President Trump selected Dr. E.J. Antoni III to restore America’s trust in the jobs data that has had major issues, without any real attempt at resolution, for years,” White House assistant press secretary Taylor Rogers told Newsweek. “Antoni’s education and vast experience as an economist has prepared him to produce accurate public data for businesses, households, and policymakers to inform their decision-making.”
Former Commissioner Groshen told Newsweek she is “trying to avoid rushing to judgment” on the new pick, but said: “What worries me most is that the nominee and his work are not well known in the business, academic or public service communities.”
For Antoni to gain her confidence, Groshen said he will need to demonstrate the qualifications necessary to “shore up trust in BLS’s credibility and excellence,” as well as deep economic expertise and management experience, familiarity with the work and commitment to the mission of the bureau, and the ability to “interact effectively with both Congress and senior Department of Labor staff.”
“Such a candidate would garner broad, bipartisan support in the Senate and such support would demonstrate their suitability,” she told Newsweek.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump, on Truth Social: “I am pleased to announce that I am nominating Highly Respected Economist, Dr. E.J. Antoni, as the next Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Our Economy is booming, and E.J. will ensure that the Numbers released are HONEST and ACCURATE. I know E.J. Antoni will do an incredible job in this new role. Congratulations E.J.!”
E.J. Antoni told Bloomberg prior to his nomination: “Whoever the next commissioner is, whether it’s me or anybody else, everything they do should be at the service of that mission — more accurate data, as timely as possible, as consistently as possible.”
Democratic Representative George Whitesides, on X: “Putting highly partisan economist EJ Antoni in charge of the government’s Bureau of Labor Statistics is sure to lead to less confidence in US economic numbers, less confidence in the US dollar, and less confidence in the US treasury market. Bad for the USA.”
White House Assistant Press Secretary Taylor Rogers told Newsweek via email on Tuesday: “In addition to being the Chief Economist at the Heritage Foundation, he [Antoni] has frequently testified before Congress on economic issues and his research has been featured by many think tanks and advocacy groups. Unlike the previous Commissioner, Antoni will produce overdue solutions to long-term issues at the Bureau and provide Americans with the accurate data they deserve.”
Australian economist Justin Wolfers, on X: “Trump’s nominee for BLS commissioner, EJ Antoni, is disastrously terrible. He’s a 1200%, 1300% maybe 1400% in-the-tank Trumper, with few credentials beyond a long history of misrepresenting or misunderstanding basic economic statistics.”
Economist and former Trump adviser Stephen Moore told the Financial Times: “[Antoni is] a very good statistician and a sound, solid economist. I don’t anticipate he’ll have much of a problem getting confirmed.”
What Happens Next
Antoni must be confirmed by the Senate before he can assume the role of BLS commissioner.
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