Trump's selection for the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics is E.J. Antoni.
President Donald Trump has nominated E.J. Antoni, a conservative economist and chief economist at the Heritage Foundation, to serve as the next Commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Antoni's nomination, which requires Senate confirmation, has sparked concerns among economists and professional statisticians about potential politicization and the credibility of BLS data.
Antoni comes from a conservative economic background, having been a vocal critic of the BLS under its previous commissioner, Erika McEntarfer. Trump fired McEntarfer after a disappointing jobs report, accusing her of releasing "fake" statistics without evidence. Antoni has described McEntarfer as "incompetent" in an appearance on Bannon's podcast.
Antoni's economic outlook aligns with supply-side economics, a conservative doctrine emphasizing tax cuts and deregulation to stimulate economic growth. He defended this viewpoint in his 2020 doctoral dissertation. However, his nomination breaks from tradition, as past BLS chiefs have typically been nonpartisan career statisticians or academic experts with extensive experience managing official statistical agencies.
Critics, including Harvard economist Jason Furman and other experts, describe Antoni as unqualified due to his partisan background, lack of experience in government data or agency management, and previous harsh criticisms of BLS data integrity. Justin Wolfers, a professor at the University of Michigan, described Antoni as "disastrously terrible" with no commitment to truth.
The BLS's important role in providing crucial economic indicators to Congress, businesses, and policymakers heightens these concerns. The agency has recently faced operational challenges, losing a substantial portion of its staff and leadership, complicating the modernization and maintenance of its statistical products. Antoni's appointment comes at a critical juncture where the agency must restore public trust and defend its independence against political interference.
Some economists warn that Antoni's appointment could spark concerns about partisanship at the BLS and foster distrust of the agency's data. Moore, of the Committee to Unleash Prosperity, praised Antoni as the right fit to improve the BLS, while others see him as bringing needed reforms and solutions to the Bureau's long-term challenges in maintaining "honest and accurate" data from a supply-side viewpoint.
Antoni has suggested switching the BLS from monthly to quarterly jobs reports to allow for greater accuracy. However, this could potentially erode confidence among stakeholders who rely on unbiased economic data released on a monthly basis. Survey response rates for the BLS have declined since the onset of the pandemic, further complicating data collection.
In sum, Antoni's conservative economic policy alignment, his partisan critiques of BLS data, and lack of traditional credentials raise questions about potential impacts on the agency’s independence, data credibility, and modernization efforts. His tenure could shift how labor market statistics are compiled or presented, potentially eroding confidence among stakeholders who rely on unbiased economic data.
[1] The Hill [2] The Washington Post [3] The New York Times [4] The Wall Street Journal [5] The Washington Examiner
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