The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has long been one of the few places in Washington where politics took a backseat to facts. Its mission is simple but essential: to provide trustworthy, nonpartisan data on jobs, inflation, and other key measures of America’s economic health. But now, that independence is under threat.

President Trump recently fired BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer without cause, just days after the agency released a jobs report showing weaker-than-expected hiring. Without presenting evidence, Trump claimed the numbers were “rigged.” In her place, he has nominated E.J. Antoni, chief economist at the Heritage Foundation — a frequent political commentator who has repeatedly made inaccurate claims about the U.S. economy.

Critics from across the political spectrum have warned that Antoni’s history of misrepresenting economic data and making partisan statements is deeply at odds with the BLS’s role. He has:

• Claimed, without basis, that the economy had been in recession since 2022.
• Posted misleading inflation charts that conflated timelines to exaggerate economic problems.
• Called for suspending the monthly jobs report entirely — a move that would undermine Wall Street stability and public trust.
• Suggested ending Social Security payments for people currently paying into the system, despite the BLS’s critical role in calculating those cost-of-living adjustments.

The BLS has earned decades of public confidence because its leadership has been grounded in technical expertise, not political loyalty. While the commissioner cannot directly alter the raw numbers, they can change how those numbers are presented — shaping public perception and investor confidence in ways that ripple across the economy.

Americans of all political beliefs rely on BLS data to make decisions — from workers negotiating wages, to retirees depending on Social Security, to businesses planning for the future. The agency’s credibility is too important to hand over to someone whose track record suggests a willingness to bend facts for partisan gain.

We urge the Senate to reject E.J. Antoni’s nomination and instead confirm a commissioner with a proven record of impartiality, accuracy, and dedication to public service. The integrity of America’s economic data — and the trust of its people — depends on it.