BLS leadership nomination

EJ Antoni, longtime critic of the BLS, is nominated to lead the agency after Erika McEntarfer was fired by Trump.

Trump nominates Heritage Foundation economist as labor statistics chief

President Trump announced EJ Antoni, the Heritage Foundation's chief economist, as the nominee to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The move comes after the president dismissed BLS commissioner Erika McEntarfer earlier this month following a jobs report Trump described as weak and rigged. Antoni has long criticized BLS methods and revisions, arguing there are better ways to collect and publish data.

The nomination now goes to the Senate for confirmation. The Wall Street Journal reported that former White House adviser Steve Bannon had urged Antoni's candidacy, signaling political backing. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer said Antoni would provide fair and accurate data American workers can rely on, framing the choice as one focused on credibility and consistency.

Antoni’s ascent would place a data body at the center of partisan debate about how the economy is measured. The core question is whether the BLS can maintain independence while being led by a figure with a track record of challenging its revisions. If he sticks to transparent methods and timely releases, he could rebuild trust; if not, the agency’s credibility may suffer further. The broader political context matters, since data that align with political narratives risk diminished public confidence.

Highlights

The path forward will reveal how much the public trusts official numbers.