Trump nominates conservative economist EJ Antoni to lead Bureau of Labor Statistics
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The news: US President Donald Trump announced he is nominating EJ Antoni, chief economist at the conservative Heritage Foundation, as commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Antoni must be confirmed by the Senate.
The context: The appointment comes 10 days after he ordered the firing of the agency’s previous leader, Erika McEntarfer, hours after a report showed much weaker-than-expected US job growth in July and a historically large downward revision for May and June. Trump accused McEntarfer, without evidence, of manipulating the figures.
Antoni has been vocal about his concerns with BLS jobs data and revisions and has said the absence of a Trump pick at the agency is part of the reason for data problems.
If confirmed, he would lead an agency with declining survey response rates and staffing shortages. Earlier this year BLS said a staffing shortage was forcing it to reduce the CPI index collection sample after closing operations in Buffalo, New York; Lincoln, Nebraska; and Provo, Utah.
Starting this month, the BLS is also ending the calculation and publication of about 350 components of the Producer Price Index. The agency has also been under a hiring freeze since January.
Trump’s firing of McEntarfer shocked economists across the political spectrum, who immediately defended her and the BLS. According to Bloomberg, the agency’s work, along with that of other US statistical offices, has a global ‘gold standard’ reputation for being free of political influence, which is now at risk.
What they said: “Our Economy is booming, and EJ will ensure that the Numbers released are HONEST and ACCURATE,” Trump posted on his social media site Truth Social.
“I know EJ Antoni will do an incredible job in this new role. Congratulations EJ!”
The sources: Donald Trump, Bloomberg
