President Donald Trump’s pick for Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner, E.J. Antoni, has withdrawn his proposal to suspend monthly jobs reports, despite previously stating that the data is unreliable and frequently revised.
Heritage Foundation economist Stephen Moore told CNN that Antoni had changed his mind after discussing the issue with him. “I think it’s a bad idea to do that,” Moore said. “We need monthly numbers.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt acknowledged Antoni’s initial suggestion but said the Trump administration intended to continue issuing jobs reports every month.
Antoni had argued that the BLS should publish only quarterly data until the monthly jobs report is more accurate, citing the significant revisions in recent months. However, Moore and other experts say that improving the data, not stopping its release, is the solution.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) tracks each month’s revisions dating back to 1979, with an average monthly revision of 51,000 jobs since 2003. Economists argue that scrapping the monthly jobs report would leave policymakers and businesses without timely information on employment activity.
Experts say the BLS should focus on improving data collection efforts, such as increasing response rates for surveys, rather than suspending reports. The current decline in response rates has led to increased volatility in the data and larger revisions.
In a statement, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said: “I believe that is the plan, and that’s the hope, and that these monthly reports will be data that the American people can trust.”
The Bureau of Labor Statistics plays a critical role in measuring economic activity, and its data is considered the gold standard due to its reliability and comprehensiveness. However, federal data has been under siege, with decreased funding, response rates, and public trust posing significant challenges.
In an effort to improve the data, Trump’s administration aimed to tackle this issue. Antoni’s withdrawal of his proposal suggests that the administration is committed to addressing these concerns and providing accurate and reliable economic data to policymakers and businesses.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/08/12/economy/antoni-bls-mulls-suspending-jobs-report