Trump has chosen a new director candidate for the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the "MAGA PI".

Written by: Ye Zhen, Wall Street Journal

U.S. President Trump has nominated a long-time public critic of official economic data from the “MAGA faction” to head the Bureau of Labor Statistics, heightening 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 will be the new director of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). In the post, Trump wrote, “Our economy is booming, and E.J. will ensure that the numbers released are honest and accurate.” The position requires Senate confirmation.

After the non-farm payroll disaster in July, Trump quickly fired former director Erika McEntarfer, accusing her of manipulating data for political purposes without providing evidence, and appointed by former President Biden.

The integrity of BLS data is crucial for investors and policymakers. The recent employment report has fundamentally changed market perceptions of the labor market—from solid to nearly stagnant—and has raised questions about the Federal Reserve’s previous decision to withstand pressure from Trump to cut interest rates and maintain rates unchanged.

Nowadays, a politically charged candidate leading BLS may further shake the market’s confidence in core economic indicators in the United States.

Bannon strongly supports candidates with distinct political stances.

EJ Antoni is the Chief Economist at the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation, holds a PhD in economics, and was a senior advisor during Trump’s first term, being a candidate strongly backed by the influential Steve Bannon in conservative circles. Reports indicate that Bannon once referred to Antoni as “the perfect person to lead the BLS at the perfect time.”

Antoni’s political stance is clear, and he does not shy away from it. In a recent employment report, when asked on Bannon’s podcast whether the BLS is run by “MAGA Republicans,” he replied, “Unfortunately, no.” He added that this is part of the reason why “we continue to encounter various data issues.”

In addition, Antoni is one of the contributors to the “Project 2025” policy blueprint, which advocates for maximizing the proportion of political appointees within the Department of Labor (the parent agency of the BLS).

He is still a senior researcher at Unleash Prosperity, an organization whose leadership includes well-known figures such as Steve Forbes, Arthur Laffer, and Stephen Moore, and regularly provides policy advice to Trump.

The dismissal controversy that shook the reputation of the “gold standard”

Trump’s public attacks on BLS data and personnel interventions at high levels began with the firing of McEntarfer.

On August 1, after 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 that these numbers are “manipulated” to embarrass him and the Republicans. The BLS stated that data revisions are a routine process that incorporates more information and seasonal adjustments, aiming to improve data accuracy in the long term.

The decision to dismiss McEntarfer has caused a huge stir in the professional circle.

The term of 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 firing as “destructive” and said it “damaged the credibility of the BLS.” After the incident, McEntarfer’s deputy William Wiatrowski has served as acting director.

BLS may face significant reforms

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

At the same time, the Trump administration has proposed a broader institutional reform plan. Its 2026 budget proposal suggests placing the BLS under the jurisdiction of 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 will exacerbate the funding challenges the agency is already facing.

As the agency responsible for releasing key economic data such as U.S. employment and inflation, the output of the BLS serves as the foundation for a range of business and policy decisions, from wage standards to adjustments in Social Security benefits.

Although it is under the Department of Labor, it largely operates as an independent agency. Placing an openly political ally in this key position has put its independence and the purity of its data under unprecedented scrutiny.