Trump names EJ Antoni to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics

A Heritage Foundation economist is appointed to lead the BLS after a firing that sparked questions about data independence.

Trump taps EJ Antoni to run the Bureau of Labor Statistics

President Donald Trump announced EJ Antoni, a budget analyst at the Heritage Foundation, as the new commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics after dismissing the previous head Erika McEntarfer amid weaker job data. The White House framed the move as a step toward more honest and accurate job figures, a claim Trump echoed on Truth Social. Critics promptly warned that appointing a conservative think tank economist could politicize a key government data agency.

Antoni’s background in fiscal policy and budget analysis is likely to shape how the BLS presents labor data and interpret its numbers. The firing of McEntarfer, who Trump said had rigged figures, compounds long-running debates over the agency’s independence. Economists across the political spectrum have stressed the importance of nonpartisan data for policymakers and markets, even as partisan tensions color the discussion around this appointment.

The move highlights a broader tension between political leadership and statistical independence. If the BLS is seen as an arm of political power, trust in monthly unemployment and wage data could suffer, making it harder for the public and investors to rely on the numbers. The administration’s framing suggests a desire for more assertive messaging about the economy, while defenders of data integrity warn that the method and process must stay transparent regardless of who wears the title. In the coming months, how the BLS documents its methods and communicates revisions will be crucial to preserving credibility.

Highlights

The credibility of official labor data now hinges on safeguards and transparent practice.