EJ Antonin appointed as head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics

• EJ Antonin, a conservative economist, has been appointed as the head of the BLS.
• The dismissal of the previous BLS director sparked controversy.
• Critics assert that the appointment may politicize economic data.

President Donald Trump appointed EJ Antonin to the position of head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which has triggered a wave of criticism from economists. Antonin, who previously worked at the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation, has a reputation for criticizing government data.

Antonin's selection comes after the dismissal of the former BLS head, Eric Makenfarer, on September 1, 2025, following the release by BLS of employment data that showed a significant decline in the number of jobs. Trump accused BLS of manipulating data, which sparked outrage among economists and former officials.

Antonin, known for his superlative statements, claimed that BLS should stop publicizing any current data on employment until improvements are made in the data collection processes. His appointment may signal a new politicization of BLS work, which has traditionally been regarded as nonpartisan.

Economists suggest that while Antonin may change the data, he could influence how they are presented. Changes in the submitted data may reduce trust in statistics, which could impact business planning and investment.

Historically, BLS has relied on trust due to its independence; however, recent events have raised concerns about the future credibility of the agency. Antonin, if confirmed, may become a symbol of a new era of political influence on economic statistics.

Tags: USA/Politics/Economy