President Donald Trump’s nomination of Heritage Foundation economist E.J. Antoni to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has drawn sharp criticism from economists across the political spectrum. The announcement came a week after Trump dismissed BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer following weaker-than-expected jobs data.
Economists, including conservatives, voiced concerns over politicizing the nonpartisan agency. Stan Veuger of the conservative American Enterprise Institute said Antoni’s work “frequently included elementary errors” that consistently favored partisan conclusions. Dave Hebert of the American Institute for Economic Research urged the Senate to reject the nomination, citing Antoni’s “inability to understand basic economics.”
Other critics pointed to specific mistakes, such as failing to adjust labor force data for an aging population and misunderstanding BLS import price measures. Manhattan Institute fellows Daniel Di Martino and Jessica Riedl labeled his analyses “error-filled.”
Left-leaning economists also objected, with former Obama adviser Jason Furman calling Antoni “completely unqualified.” Some warned his reported interest in suspending the jobs report could undermine confidence and destabilize markets.
A White House spokesperson defended the choice, citing Antoni’s experience and pledging accurate, transparent data. Antoni and the Heritage Foundation have not commented.
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