E.J. Antoni, a prominent figure with a strong political stance, was strongly favored by Steve Bannon, a figure highly influential in conservative circles. He believes that continued data problems at the Bureau are partly due to the Bureau not being run by a "MAGA Republican." A politically charged candidate at the helm of the BLS could further undermine market confidence in core U.S. economic indicators.

U.S. President Trump's nomination of a MAGA figure who has long publicly questioned official economic data has heightened concerns about the BLS's future political independence and the credibility of its economic data.

On August 11, Trump announced via the social media platform Truth Social that conservative economist E.J. Antoni would be the new director of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). "Our economy is booming, and E.J. will ensure the numbers released are honest and accurate," Trump wrote in the post. The position requires Senate confirmation.

After the disappointing July non-farm payroll report, Trump quickly fired former Director Erika McEntarfer, accusing McEntarfer, appointed by former President Biden, of manipulating the data for political purposes without providing evidence.

The integrity of BLS data is crucial for investors and policymakers. The recent jobs report has fundamentally shifted the market's view of the labor market—from solid to near-stagnant—and raised questions about the Federal Reserve's decision to hold rates steady despite Trump's pressure to cut.

Now, with a politically charged candidate at the helm of the BLS, market confidence in core US economic indicators could be further shaken.

Bannon's top pick: A clear political stance

EJ Antoni, chief economist at the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation, holds a doctorate in economics and was a top pick of Steve Bannon, a senior advisor to Trump during his first term and a highly influential figure in conservative circles. Bannon reportedly called Antoni "the perfect person to run the BLS at the perfect time."

Antoni's political stance is clear, and he's not shy about it. Asked on Bannon's podcast after the recent jobs report whether the BLS is run by "MAGA Republicans," he replied, "Unfortunately, no," adding that this is partly why "we continue to have all sorts of data issues."

Antoni is also a contributor to the "Project 2025" policy blueprint, which advocates for maximizing the proportion of political appointees within the Department of Labor (the BLS's parent department).

He is also a senior fellow at Unleash Prosperity, an organization whose leadership includes prominent figures such as Steve Forbes, Arthur Laffer, and Stephen Moore, and which regularly provides policy advice to Trump.

The firings that rocked the "gold standard" reputation

Trump's public attacks on BLS data and his interference in senior personnel matters began with McEntarfer's dismissal.

On August 1st, after the BLS released weak jobs data, Trump swiftly fired her. The report showed job growth averaging just 35,000 over the past three months, with data for May and June revised downward by a staggering 258,000 jobs, the largest downward revision since the pandemic began.

Trump claimed the figures were "rigged" and intended to embarrass him and Republicans. The BLS, however, said the revisions were routine, incorporating more information and seasonal adjustments, intended to improve data accuracy over the long term.

The decision to fire McEntarfer sent shockwaves through professional circles.

The BLS director's term is four years, typically spanning Republican and Democratic administrations to ensure continuity and independence.

Even McEntarfer's predecessor, William Beach, a Trump appointee, criticized the dismissal as "destructive" and "damaging to the BLS's credibility." McEntarfer's deputy, William Wiatrowski, has served as acting director since the incident.

The BLS may face major reforms.

Once confirmed, Antoni plans to implement major changes to the BLS. He has called for a "top-to-bottom" review of all of the agency's data collection, processing, analysis, and dissemination processes, and said the BLS should publish more information on its website to increase transparency.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration has proposed broader agency reforms. Its 2026 budget proposal would place the BLS under the Commerce Department, alongside other economic statistics agencies like the Census Bureau and the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The proposal also proposes cuts to the BLS's budget and staffing, exacerbating the agency's already facing funding challenges.

As the agency responsible for publishing key U.S. economic data such as employment and inflation, the BLS's output forms the basis for a range of business and policy decisions, from wage rates to adjustments to Social Security benefits.

Although part of the Department of Labor, the BLS operates largely as an independent agency. The placement of an open political ally in this key position presents an unprecedented test of its independence and the purity of its data.