The Senate’s confirmation of E.J. Antoni as the next Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) commissioner has united many economists against it. As a highly respected economist with decades of experience, current Commissioner Erika McEntarfer is being replaced by Dr. Antoni, who has shown apparent misunderstandings of key economic concepts and made misleading claims about the state of the economy.
Dr. Antoni’s selection has raised concerns among economists, as he would be responsible for overseeing two critical reports: the employment report and the Consumer Price Index inflation report. These reports are crucial for decision-making by the Federal Reserve, financial markets, and businesses broadly. Economists are worried that Dr. Antoni’s approach could undermine trust in these statistics, potentially leading to economic missteps.
Some economists have praised Dr. Antoni’s selection as a “missed opportunity” to improve data infrastructure, but many others believe he is unqualified and lacks the expertise to handle this critical role. The American Enterprise Institute’s Stan Veuger has described him as “utterly unqualified and as partisan as it gets.” Similarly, conservative and libertarian think tanks have echoed these sentiments.
The BLS commissioner’s role involves making data-driven decisions without seeing the numbers until after they are finalized. While this is a norm, some economists worry that Dr. Antoni could use his position to manipulate data or push for revisions that benefit Trump’s agenda. This could lead to a loss of trust in economic statistics and have far-reaching consequences for businesses and policymakers.
The appointment of E.J. Antoni as BLS commissioner highlights the risks of politicizing critical economic institutions. It also underscores the importance of experts in this role, who must navigate complex data and make objective decisions that inform policy. As the world becomes increasingly post-truth, it is essential to preserve trust in our data infrastructure to ensure accurate decision-making and a stable economy.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/13/opinion/trump-bls-nominee-antoni.html