Labor statistics agency head nominee may temporarily halt monthly employment data release due to validity doubts

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is set for a change in leadership, following the dismissal of former commissioner Erika McEntarfer by President Donald Trump. E.J. Antoni, an economist and chief economist at the Heritage Foundation, has been nominated to take over the helm.

Antoni's nomination comes amidst concerns over the accuracy of BLS data. He has been vocal about the declining response rate, now below 50%, as a key factor contributing to inaccuracies in the data. Antoni argues that statistical assumptions that may have worked fine before COVID no longer work in today's economy and therefore need to be revised.

One of Antoni's proposals is to keep the publication of more accurate, though less timely, quarterly data instead of the monthly jobs report. This suggestion has been met with mixed reactions, with some criticizing the move as potentially misleading key economic decision-makers. However, Antoni maintains that the problems in the BLS data have been evident for three years and still haven't been fixed.

Antoni's nomination was announced on August 12, 2025, by President Trump on Truth Social. His appointment follows the dismissal of McEntarfer, which occurred after the release of new data showing that job growth had been significantly overstated. The revised figures saw a downward revision of 258,000 jobs for May and June.

Kevin Roberts, president of The Heritage Foundation, described Antoni as a "stellar choice" to lead the BLS. Antoni, however, did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

Before ascending to the top spot at the BLS, Antoni must face Senate confirmation. His nomination has been met with some criticism, with some suggesting that the jobs data was intentionally manipulated. However, Antoni does not believe the jobs data was intentionally manipulated, but argues that persistent flaws in the BLS's methodology have gone unaddressed.

The monthly jobs report data is considered to have far-reaching consequences for major decision-makers. Antoni has warned that the report's unreliability and tendency to overstate jobs can mislead key economic decision-makers from Washington to Wall Street.

As Antoni prepares to take over, he will face the challenge of restoring faith in the BLS data and ensuring its accuracy. His nomination marks a significant shift in the direction of the BLS, with a focus on addressing long-standing issues and improving the reliability of the data.