President Donald Trump announced the nomination of E.J. Antoni, chief economist at the Heritage Foundation, to become the next Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This nomination followed the abrupt dismissal of Erika McEntarfer, the previous commissioner, on August 1, 2025, just hours after the release of a weak jobs report that included downward revisions totaling 258,000 jobs for May and June.
Antoni’s Profile and Views
E.J. Antoni, age 37 (born October 1987), holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Northern Illinois University and, as of May 2025, serves as chief economist at the Heritage Foundation.
Antoni has been vocal in his criticism of BLS methodologies, and in early August, he suggested pausing the agency’s longstanding monthly jobs reports—in place since 1915—in favor of more accurate quarterly figures. He argued that low survey response rates and large data revisions have undermined the reliability of monthly data.
What Comes Next
Antoni’s nomination requires Senate confirmation. The White House has stated it hopes monthly reports will continue, though Antoni’s comments signal a potential shift in the data cadence and methodology.
This nomination marks a pivotal moment for the BLS. With Antoni’s confirmation, the future of U.S. labor and inflation data reporting could shift significantly—raising important questions regarding data credibility, public confidence, and statistical best practices.