Trump Names His Pick To Take Charge Of Jobs Data: ‘HONEST And ACCURATE’

President Donald Trump has tapped Dr. E.J. Antoni, chief economist at The Heritage Foundation, to serve as the next Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, replacing Erika McEntarfer, who was fired earlier this month after major downward revisions to jobs reports.

Trump announced the nomination Monday on Truth Social, praising Antoni as a “Highly Respected Economist” who will guarantee “HONEST and ACCURATE” jobs data. Antoni will require Senate confirmation before assuming the role. “Our economy is booming, and E.J. will ensure that the numbers released are honest and accurate. I know E.J. Antoni will do an incredible job in this new role,” Trump wrote.

Antoni has been an outspoken critic of the Bureau’s data collection methods, arguing that flawed processes have eroded public trust. “There are better ways to collect, process, and disseminate data — that is the task for the next BLS commissioner,” Antoni wrote last week. “Only consistent delivery of accurate data in a timely manner will rebuild the trust that has been lost over the last several years.”

There are better ways to collect, process, and disseminate data—that is the task for the next BLS commissioner, and only consistent delivery of accurate data in a timely manner will rebuild the trust that has been lost over the last several years: https://t.co/yztQIoj2zx

— E.J. Antoni, Ph.D. (@RealEJAntoni) August 4, 2025

McEntarfer’s firing followed an August 1 BLS report that revised May’s nonfarm payroll growth from 144,000 to just 19,000 — a downward change of 125,000 jobs — and June’s growth from 147,000 to 14,000, a revision of 133,000 jobs. Trump blasted McEntarfer for “politically motivated” manipulation, pointing to past BLS overstatements, including a reported 818,000-job overcount in March 2024 and a 112,000-job inflation just before the 2024 election.

“This is the same Bureau of Labor Statistics that overstated the jobs growth… right before the presidential election,” Trump posted. “We need accurate jobs numbers… they can’t be manipulated for political purposes.”

If confirmed, Antoni will be tasked with restoring credibility to the agency at a time when Republicans argue that manipulated labor data has been used to distort the public’s perception of economic performance for partisan ends. Trump’s allies say the move signals his administration’s determination to root out political bias from federal statistical reporting.