Trump's nominee for the role of BLS commissioner criticizes the Bureau of Labor Statistics
The nomination of E.J. Antoni, a conservative economist with a doctorate from Northern Illinois University, as Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has stirred controversy. Antoni, currently the chief economist at the Heritage Foundation, has been a vocal critic of the BLS's data collection and methodology.
Antoni's criticism extends back years, with concerns about the accuracy of key figures such as health insurance data and low response rates during the Covid-19 pandemic. In a 2022 blog post, he labelled a methodology change for the BLS' Consumer Price Index as an "Orwellian trick" to mask higher inflation.
Trump's nomination of Antoni to lead the BLS has been met with backlash from many economists. Economist Justin Wolfers called Antoni "disastrously terrible," while Jason Furman stated that Antoni is "completely unqualified" for the role. Economist E.J. Antoni's nomination as BLS Commissioner has been met with backlash from many economists.
Antoni's nomination has also been praised by conservatives, with Antoni being a frequent guest on right-wing media outlets. He has appeared on Steve Bannon's podcast to discuss the BLS's monthly jobs report and has echoed Trump's criticism of the BLS, claiming that recent massive annual revisions gave former President Joe Biden favorable headlines.
Antoni has promised to deliver accurate data in a timely manner if confirmed as commissioner, with the aim of rebuilding trust in the BLS. However, his nomination has raised concerns about the potential impact on the objectivity and accuracy of the BLS's data.
The BLS has warned that cuts issued by the Department of Government Efficiency have disrupted data collection that feeds into the government's reports. It remains to be seen how Antoni's nomination will affect the BLS's data collection and reporting processes.
References:
[1] https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/03/10/trump-nominates-heritage-foundation-economist-bureau-labor-statistics-chief/
[2] https://www.heritage.org/about/staff/ej-antoni
[3] https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/10/us/politics/trump-bureau-of-labor-statistics-nominee.html
The nomination of E.J. Antoni for the role of Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has sparked debate in the realm of policy-and-legislation and politics, given the backlash from many economists who deem him unqualified for the position. This controversy also extends to the general-news sphere, as Antoni's nomination has been met with praise from conservative factions, particularly on right-wing media outlets.
