Trump pick for BLS commissioner recently called for suspending monthly jobs report
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Trump pick for BLS commissioner recently called for suspending monthly jobs report

August 12, 2025
10:00 PM
3 min read
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economy

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Heritage Foundation economist E.J. Antoni questioned the reports' accuracy after President Donald Trump fired the prior Bureau of Labor Statistics chief.

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3 min read

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investment

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Published

August 12, 2025

10:00 PM

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CNBC

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economy

Antoni, Heritage Foundation economist and former economist for the Texas Public Policy Foundation.Courtesy: Texas Public Policy FoundationHeritage Foundation economist E

Antoni, chosen Monday by President Donald Trump to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics, recently floated the idea of the BLS suspending its traditional monthly jobs reports.Antoni, in an interview Aug. 4 with Fox News Digital, questioned the accuracy of those monthly reports, which are key economic indicators that Wall Street investors and economists rely on to assess the health of the U.S. labor market."How on earth are es supposed to plan — or how is the Fed supposed to conduct monetary policy — when they don't know how many jobs are being added or lost in our economy?" Antoni said in that interview."It's a serious blem that needs to be fixed immediately," Antoni said at the time."Until it is corrected, the BLS should suspend issuing the monthly job reports but keep publishing the more accurate, though less timely, quarterly data."Read more CNBC coverageTrump threatens Fed chair Powell with 'major lawsuit,' demands interest rate cutPutin wants a photo op with Trump and a sanctions delay, says EU foreign policy chiefSidelined from Trump-Putin talks, Ukraine warns the world not to trust RussiaTrump to nominate E.J

Antoni as Bureau of Labor Statistics commissionerTrump extends China tariff deadline by 90 daysernor warns Trump he'll retaliate if Texas redraws congressional mapsJudge rejects unsealing Ghislaine Maxwell grand jury transcriptsTrump puts Washington, DC, police under federal control, deploys National GuardDemocrats slam GOP redistricting fight as 'cheating' as Texas Gov

Abbott threatens arrestsTrump warns less to leave Washington, D.C., 'immediately'Trump to speak at White House on violent crime in D.C. amid federal crackdownTrump warns courts against knocking down tariffs, says duties are 'huge positive'Trump says he will meet with Putin in Alaska on Aug. 15Antoni's s came after Trump abruptly fired Erika McEntarfer as BLS commissioner on Aug. 1.Trump claimed the agency under her leadership had "rigged" the jobs reports for political purposes.Trump's decision, which drew strong pushback from economists and former BLS employees, came hours after the agency reported slower-than-anticipated job growth in July.The report also included downward revisions of the number of jobs created in the two previous months.Trump pointed to the changes, which are common in jobs reports, to claim that the agency manipulated the data.The White House on Tuesday def Trump's selection of Antoni.Press secretary Karoline Leavitt acknowledged that he "floated the idea of possibly suspending until they can get the data and the methodology in order.""This president wants to ensure that the BLS again is putting out accurate and honest data," Leavitt said.She also said Trump "trusts him to lead this important department."