TL/DR –
EJ Antoni, a nominee by former US President Donald Trump to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), has come under criticism from economists due to his potential to politicise the traditionally nonpartisan agency. Antoni, a conservative economist and a critic of the government’s job data, suggested that the Labor Department should stop publishing the monthly job reports until its data collection processes improve. Critics fear that Antoni could manipulate the presentation of economic data, while some argue that it’s unlikely he could distort the actual figures.
EJ Antoni, Trump’s Bureau of Labor Statistics Nominee Faces Critics
EJ Antoni, President Trump’s nominee for leading the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has been scrutinized by economists. Antoni, former chief economist at the conservative Heritage Foundation and an author of Project 2025, threatens to bring unprecedented politicization to the agency, which has long been regarded as a nonpartisan and reliable source of economic data. Read more about Antoni’s background here.
Trump’s nominee for BLS comes after a jobs report released by the agency in August, showing a weakened hiring in July, and lower than predicted job growth in May and June. In response, Trump accused the agency of manipulating the data for political reasons, leading to firing of then-chair Erika McEntarfer, a move that drew extensive criticism.
Antoni, a Known Critic of Government Data
Antoni is known for being a vocal critic of government’s jobs data, as seen in his frequent podcasts and TV appearances. Shortly before his nomination, he suggested on Fox News Digital that the Labor Department should cease publishing the monthly jobs reports until data collection methods are enhanced, urging to rely more on actual employment filings with state unemployment offices.
During his appearances, Antoni has often shown a conservative ideology, including manipulation of data claims favoring Trump, proclaiming the economy in recession during Biden’s presidency based on a misleading measure of housing inflation, and miscues regarding inflation predictions. More on Trump’s economic claims can be found here.
Concerns Over Flawed Data
Like Antoni, many economists have shared concerns over flaws and volatility in government’s jobs data due to declining response rates to its surveys. There’s a consensus that the methods can be improved, perhaps by using more modern data sources such as payroll processing companies’ figures, complemented by surveys to fill the gaps. However, critics claim that Antoni, if confirmed, might adapt the figures to paint a rosier picture.
Despite concerns, former BLS commissioners remain confident about the robustness of BLS procedures to prevent political interference. Political meddling seems highly unlikely, given that the commissioner doesn’t manipulate the data. As Antoni’s nomination faces opposition from Democrats, the result remains uncertain.
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