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Trump nominates conservative economist to head BLS
President Trump plans to nominate E.J. Antoni of the Heritage Foundation to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics after firing the previous chief over weak jobs data.
Trump plans to nominate E.J. Antoni of the Heritage Foundation to run the Bureau of Labor Statistics after firing the previous chief over weak jobs data.
Trump taps conservative economist to lead statistics agency
President Trump plans to nominate E.J. Antoni, a conservative economist at the Heritage Foundation, to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics. If confirmed by the Senate, Antoni would oversee the monthly jobs report and inflation tracking, roles traditionally held by apolitical technocrats.
The nomination comes ten days after the president fired Erika McEntarfer following a disappointing run of job gains in May, June and July. Supporters say the choice reflects a pro growth stance, while critics worry a partisan appointment could undermine the credibility of official data and invite political pressure on numbers.
Key Takeaways
"Our Economy is booming, and E.J. will ensure that the Numbers released are HONEST and ACCURATE"
Trump's social media post announcing Antoni's nomination
"The numbers were rigged to make him look bad"
Trump's assertion about recent job data
"The BLS post is typically held by apolitical technocrats"
Article notes the usual temperament of the role
"Independent economists dismissed the rigging claim"
Response to the president's accusation
This move shifts a key statistician role from technocratic neutrality to political signaling. It raises questions about whether the BLS can maintain its independence when its leader comes from a partisan think tank. The risk is not a single setback but a pattern that could erode trust in the monthly job counts and inflation figures.
The stakes extend beyond one agency. Markets, policymakers and the public rely on consistent, credible data to gauge the health of the economy. A leadership change seen as political could intensify scrutiny of every release and invite competing narratives about what the numbers really show.
Highlights
- Numbers deserve to stand on their own
- A data office should shield the numbers from headlines
- Independence is the default for trusted data
- Trust in data is earned through consistency not showmanship
Political appointment raises data independence concerns
Choosing a partisan economist to run the BLS could fuel perceptions that official data is shaped for political aims, risking trust in monthly jobs and inflation figures.
The coming confirmation will reveal how far data integrity can survive in a charged political climate.
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