Trump Names His Pick To Take Charge Of Jobs Data: ‘HONEST And ACCURATE’

E.J. Antoni, chief economist at The Heritage Foundation, received President Donald Trump’s nod to take over the role former Bureau of Labor Statistics head Erika McEntarfer on Monday.

President Donald Trump named his pick to take over for McEntarfer in a Truth Social post. Antoni, who must be confirmed by the Senate, was nominated to replace McEntarfer after she was fired earlier this month following significant revisions made to jobs data.

“I am pleased to announce that I am nominating Highly Respected Economist, Dr. E.J. Antoni, as the next Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Our Economy is booming, and E.J. will ensure that the Numbers released are HONEST and ACCURATE. I know E.J. Antoni will do an incredible job in this new role. Congratulations E.J.!” Trump posted.

Antoni has been a critic of the Bureau of Labor Statistics and said that the process used to gather jobs data is deeply flawed.

“There are better ways to collect, process, and disseminate data—that is the task for the next BLS commissioner, and only consistent delivery of accurate data in a timely manner will rebuild the trust that has been lost over the last several years,” Antonin said in a post on social media last week.

There are better ways to collect, process, and disseminate data—that is the task for the next BLS commissioner, and only consistent delivery of accurate data in a timely manner will rebuild the trust that has been lost over the last several years: https://t.co/yztQIoj2zx

— E.J. Antoni, Ph.D. (@RealEJAntoni) August 4, 2025

Trump fired McEntarfer on August 1 after the Bureau of Labor Statistics released its most recent report on jobs data showing significant downward revisions for job gains in the months of May and June.

“Revisions for May and June were larger than normal,” the agency said in an August 1 report. “The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for May was revised down by 125,000, from +144,000 to +19,000, and the change for June was revised  down by 133,000, from +147,000 to +14,000.”

Trump swung at McEntarfer in a post on social media after the latest revisions, accusing her of manipulating the jobs numbers for “political purposes.”

“This is the same Bureau of Labor Statistics that overstated the Jobs Growth in March 2024 by approximately 818,000 and, then again, right before the 2024 Presidential Election, in August and September, by 112,000,” Trump wrote.

“We need accurate Jobs Numbers. I have directed my Team to fire this Biden Political Appointee, IMMEDIATELY. She will be replaced with someone much more competent and qualified,” he added. “Important numbers like this must be fair and accurate, they can’t be manipulated for political purposes.”