Conservative Economists Warn Against Trump's Pick For U.S. Labor Data Agency

Conservative economists have voiced sharp opposition to Trump’s pick of Heritage Foundation economist EJ Antoni to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics, according to The Guardian.. They cite his history of misrepresenting data and making partisan attacks on the agency. Dave Hebert of the American Institute for Economic Research said EJ Antoni has repeatedly misrepresented data to exaggerate results, making him an unreliable source. He added that Antoni fundamentally misunderstands key BLS statistics. Daniel Di Martino of the Manhattan Institute said EJ Antoni’s false claim about the unemployment rate shows he is unqualified to lead U.S. labor market data collection. Friends of BLS, co-chaired by former Trump-appointed commissioner William Beach, urged the Senate to scrutinize EJ Antoni’s nomination to restore trust and protect the agency’s integrity. The White House did not immediately respond to The Guardian's request for comment.