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Backlash grows over Trump pick to lead labor statistics
Critics warn EJ Antoni could politicize the BLS as Senate confirmation looms.
A nomination to head the Bureau of Labor Statistics draws bipartisan critique over data independence and credibility.
Backlash grows over Trump pick to lead labor statistics
Donald Trump fired BLS commissioner Erika McEntarfer after claiming without evidence that official jobs data were rigged against him. He has nominated EJ Antoni, a Heritage Foundation economist and a supporter of his policy aims, to run the agency. Antoni has called for pausing the monthly jobs report and has been criticized for alleged mischaracterizations of BLS data and past controversial statements. He did not respond to a request for comment.
Economists warn that putting a partisan voice in charge of a statistical agency could undermine trust in data. After July’s weak employment figures and a 0.9 percent rise in the producer price index, credibility concerns are heightened. Antoni’s public appearances, social media activity and past remarks about the BLS have intensified the controversy as Senate confirmation remains pending.
Key Takeaways
"From selectively presenting data from particularly convenient dates to misrepresenting axes to exaggerate magnitudes"
Dave Hebert of the American Institute for Economic Research commenting on Antoni
"He’s utterly unqualified and as partisan as it gets"
Stan Veuger of the American Enterprise Institute describing Antoni
"We cannot afford such a partisan person who cannot generate believable data"
Daniel Di Martino of the Manhattan Institute on Antoni’s credentials
"The unwarranted dismissal undermined public trust in the Bureau’s integrity"
Friends of BLS in a statement urging careful scrutiny
The nomination tests the premise that independent statistics can withstand political pressure. When data becomes a political tool, numbers lose their power to inform policy. This case also exposes a broader anxiety about how much authority should be given to individuals tied to a single political agenda.
If credible stats matter to workers, investors and policymakers, safeguarding the BLS’s autonomy is essential. The current debate reflects a wider distrust of official data and its guardians. Sustaining public trust means protecting the agency from partisanship while continuing modernization efforts that improve transparency and usefulness.
Highlights
- From selectively presenting data from particularly convenient dates to misrepresenting axes to exaggerate magnitudes.
- He’s utterly unqualified and as partisan as it gets.
- We cannot afford a partisan person who cannot generate believable data.
- The unwarranted dismissal undermined public trust in the Bureau’s integrity.
Political sensitivity risks around BLS leadership
The nomination to head the BLS is politically charged and could affect data credibility and public trust. If the confirmation process is contentious, it may intensify partisan debates over economic statistics.
Trust in government data depends on independence, not allegiance.
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