A politically charged candidate leading the BLS may further shake market confidence in key U.S. economic indicators.

Written by: Ye Zhen, Wall Street Journal

U.S. President Trump has nominated a long-time public critic of official economic data, a "MAGA faction" figure, to head the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), intensifying concerns about the future political independence of the BLS and the credibility of its economic data.

On August 12, Trump announced via social media platform Truth Social that conservative economist EJ Antoni would be the new director of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Trump wrote in the post, "Our economy is booming, and E.J. will ensure that the numbers released are honest and accurate." This position requires Senate confirmation.

After the shocking non-farm payroll report in July, Trump swiftly fired former director Erika McEntarfer, accusing her—without providing evidence—of manipulating data for political purposes, as she was appointed by former President Biden.

The impartiality of BLS data is crucial for investors and policymakers. The recent employment report fundamentally changed the market's view of the labor market—from stable to nearly stagnant—and raised questions about the Federal Reserve's previous decision to withstand Trump's pressure to cut interest rates and maintain them.

Now, with a politically charged candidate at the helm of the BLS, market confidence in key U.S. economic indicators may be further undermined.

Bannon's Strongly Political Candidate

EJ Antoni is the chief economist at the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation, holds a Ph.D. in economics, and is a candidate strongly backed by Steve Bannon, a senior advisor during Trump's first term and a highly influential figure in conservative circles. Reports indicate that Bannon has called Antoni the "perfect choice to lead the BLS at the perfect time."

Antoni's political stance is clear, and he does not shy away from it. After the recent employment report was released, he was asked on Bannon's podcast whether the BLS was run by "MAGA Republicans," to which he replied, "Unfortunately, no." He added that this is part of the reason "we continue to encounter various data issues."

Additionally, Antoni is one of the contributors to the "Project 2025" policy blueprint, which advocates for maximizing the proportion of politically appointed officials within the Department of Labor (the BLS's parent department).

He is also a senior fellow at Unleash Prosperity, an organization whose leadership includes notable figures such as Steve Forbes, Arthur Laffer, and Stephen Moore, and regularly provides policy advice to Trump.

The Dismissal Controversy Undermining the "Gold Standard" Reputation

Trump's public attacks on BLS data and personnel interventions began with the dismissal of McEntarfer.

On August 1, after the BLS released weak employment data, Trump quickly fired her. The report showed that the average job growth over the past three months was only 35,000, while the data for May and June was revised down by as much as 258,000, the largest downward revision since the pandemic.

Trump claimed these numbers were "manipulated" to embarrass him and the Republicans. The BLS stated that the data revisions were a routine operation to incorporate more information and seasonal adjustments, aimed at improving data accuracy in the long term.

The decision to fire McEntarfer caused a significant stir in professional circles.

The term for the BLS director is four years, typically spanning both Republican and Democratic administrations to ensure continuity and independence in the work.

Even William Beach, McEntarfer's predecessor appointed by Trump, criticized the dismissal as "destructive" and "damaging to the credibility of the BLS." Following the incident, McEntarfer's deputy, William Wiatrowski, has been serving as acting director.

BLS May Face Major Reforms

Once the appointment is confirmed, Antoni plans to implement significant reforms at the BLS. He has called for a "top-to-bottom" review of all data collection, processing, analysis, and publication processes within the agency and stated that the BLS should publish more information on its website to enhance transparency.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration has proposed broader institutional reform plans. Its 2026 budget proposal suggests transferring the BLS to the Department of Commerce, alongside other economic statistical agencies such as the Census Bureau and the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The proposal also plans to cut the BLS's budget and staffing, which would exacerbate the funding challenges the agency already faces.

As the agency responsible for releasing key economic data such as U.S. employment and inflation, the BLS's output forms the basis for a range of business and policy decisions, from wage standards to adjustments in social security benefits.

Although it is part of the Department of Labor, it largely operates as an independent agency. Placing a public political ally in this key position poses unprecedented challenges to its independence and the purity of its data.

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