President Trump Nominates E.J. Antoni to Lead BLS Amid Controversy
President Donald Trump nominated conservative economist E.J. Antoni to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This follows the controversial firing of Erika McEntarfer, sparking concerns over U.S. economic data integrity.
Trump's newly appointed BLS head suggests suspending monthly job reports
Washington Examiner
Heritage Foundation economist to oversee U.S. labor stats
World News Group
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Overview
- President Donald Trump has nominated conservative economist E.J. Antoni to serve as the new commissioner for the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a key U.S. economic agency.
- This nomination follows Trump's decision to fire the previous BLS Commissioner, Erika McEntarfer, citing allegations of 'rigging' jobs figures, which sparked immediate controversy.
- E.J. Antoni, a conservative economist with a doctorate, has previously criticized the BLS's methodology and its collection of jobs data, aligning with Trump's stated concerns.
- Economists and statisticians have expressed significant concerns that the firing and subsequent nomination could erode public trust in U.S. economic statistics and potentially impact global markets.
- Antoni's appointment to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics is subject to confirmation by the Senate, a process that will determine his ability to assume this influential role.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this story by emphasizing concerns over the integrity and non-partisanship of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. They highlight the nominee's conservative ties and past criticisms of BLS data, while underscoring warnings from economists about potential damage to the agency's credibility and the importance of its independent data, often contrasting these points with Trump's stated reasons.
"Antoni’s nomination was quickly met with a cascade of criticism from other economists, from across the political spectrum."
Associated Press"The emails obtained by The Associated Press under the Freedom of Information Act suggest an agency with little of the corrupting partisanship that Trump had claimed."
Associated Press"The jobs report is heavily relied on by investors, businesses, government officials and workers to help make critical decisions because it's widely considered the most timely and comprehensive snapshot of the U.S. economy and labor market."
USA TODAY"Antoni criticized the monthly employment report as flawed and suggested it be replaced with more accurate, though less timely, quarterly data."
CBS News"The idea raised new alarm over the agency's future and the reliability of its statistics, which are used by political leaders, investors and everyday Americans to get a sense of how the world's richest country is faring."
BBC News"Antoni’s call to halt monthly reports signals a radical shift in how employment data may be handled, raising concerns about the reliability of economic indicators."
Fortune"The Bureau of Labor Statistics is currently led by acting Commissioner William Watrowski, who has worked at the agency for decades."
CBS News"The unprecedented move sparked accusations that Trump was politicising economic data."
BBC News"The firing raised concerns about the future accuracy and integrity of the nation’s job numbers."
USA TODAY"The choice of a partisan economist to oversee the bureau is likely to raise fresh questions about the reliability of market-moving government data."
NPR"The announcement comes one day before the BLS is scheduled to release the latest inflation data, for July."
Associated Press"The accuracy of the data that BLS produces is "built on a foundation of trust," JPMorgan's chief U.S. economist said last week."
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FAQ
E.J. Antoni is a conservative economist with a doctorate in economics from Northern Illinois University. He is the chief economist at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, and has criticized the Bureau of Labor Statistics' methodology and data collection methods in the past.
Erika McEntarfer was fired by President Trump shortly after the Bureau of Labor Statistics released a weaker-than-expected jobs report and issued a large downward revision to previous employment figures, with Trump accusing her without evidence of manipulating the jobs data.
Economists and statisticians have expressed significant concerns that the firing of the previous commissioner and the nomination of E.J. Antoni, who has criticized BLS methodology, could undermine public trust in U.S. economic data, potentially impacting global markets.
E.J. Antoni's appointment to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics is subject to confirmation by the United States Senate, which will review and approve his ability to assume the role.
The BLS produces essential monthly data on the U.S. job market and inflation, which are closely monitored by economists, investors, policymakers, and business leaders globally. The release of this data often influences stock, bond, and currency markets in real time.
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