Trump appoints conservative economist to lead agency responsible for job and inflation statistics collection
E.J. Antoni, a chief economist at the Heritage Foundation, has been nominated by President Donald Trump to head the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). However, this nomination has been met with criticism from economists, including Jason Furman and Kyle Pomeleau, who question Antoni’s qualifications and partisanship.
Antoni's critics point to his previous public statements questioning the BLS’s methodology and suggesting partisan motives. He has been openly critical of the BLS, calling some of its data “phoney baloney” and advocating for radical changes in how the agency collects and reports data.
Jason Furman, a former chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, has stated that Antoni is completely unqualified for the position due to his lack of relevant expertise and extreme partisanship. Kyle Pomeleau, a tax expert, shares this sentiment, arguing that there are more competent conservative economists for the job.
The controversy surrounding Antoni's nomination comes at a time when the BLS has faced scrutiny over its jobs data. The agency has frequently revised its initial jobs estimates lower since the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to concerns about its accuracy and impartiality.
President Trump, in a Truth Social post, emphasized that Antoni "will ensure that the Numbers released are HONEST and ACCURATE." However, the focus remains on whether Antoni’s publicly stated positions and partisan leanings might affect the agency’s independence and credibility.
If approved by the Senate, Antoni would replace Erika McEntarfer, who was appointed commissioner by former President Joe Biden. It is worth noting that the BLS commissioner is a political appointee. The BLS is otherwise staffed by career civil servants.
The announcement comes one day before the Bureau of Labor Statistics is scheduled to release the latest inflation data for July. Consumer prices are forecast to have risen for the third straight month, with tariffs pushing up the cost of many imported goods.
Antoni's partisan leanings have been evident in his economic analyses. In an analysis of the May jobs report, he claimed the economic weakness started before the Trump administration. He also accused McEntarfer, without evidence, of rigging the jobs data for political reasons.
Many conservatives have argued that these revisions potentially benefited President Joe Biden. However, this allegation has not been substantiated, and the BLS has maintained its commitment to providing accurate and impartial data.
The Associated Press contributed to the report about E.J. Antoni's nomination. As the debate continues, it remains to be seen whether Antoni's nomination will proceed and what impact it may have on the BLS and its data in the future.
[1] The Washington Post [2] The New York Times [3] CNN
The nomination of E.J. Antoni, who is recognized for his criticism of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), has stirred debates among economists. Politicians and general-news outlets have taken notice, questioning if Antoni's policy-and-legislation views and partisanship may affect the federal workforce reimagined role and the BLS's impartiality. If approved, Antoni would lead the BLS at a time when the agency's workforce is under scrutiny for the accuracy of its data, especially in the context of inflation and the ongoing partisan politics.
