Trump appoints BLS critic EJ Antoni amid data accuracy concerns

Trump’s abrupt removal of Erika McEntarfer, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) commissioner, has sparked a broader debate about the reliability of official economic data and the implications of its potential inaccuracies [1]. The move, which has been widely perceived as part of the president's tendency toward unconventional governance, has drawn particular attention due to the nominee’s controversial views and the endorsement of similar critiques from high-profile figures like Ray Dalio. McEntarfer was replaced by EJ Antoni, a critic of the BLS’s current data-gathering methods who has previously described the agency’s numbers as “BS” and advocated for a shift from monthly employment reports to quarterly ones until reforms are implemented [1].

Ray Dalio, the founder of Bridgewater Associates, has echoed these sentiments, calling the BLS's data-gathering process “obviously obsolete and error-prone.” Dalio emphasized his reliance on private data sources for a more accurate economic picture, citing the recent downward revisions in May and June employment data as indicative of systemic issues within the BLS [1]. His comments suggest a growing skepticism toward the agency's ability to provide the precise data that markets and businesses depend on for decision-making, including the allocation of vast sums of capital.

The controversy extends beyond employment figures. The BLS also produces the Consumer Price Index (CPI), a key inflation metric that has long been criticized for not reflecting the true cost of living as experienced by many Americans [1]. With Antoni now in line to oversee the BLS, concerns are mounting about the potential for significant changes in how economic data is collected and reported. His proposal to suspend monthly employment data until improvements are made raises questions about transparency and the frequency of information available to both the public and financial markets.

While the Trump administration has not provided a detailed rationale for McEntarfer’s removal, the timing and nature of the replacement have raised eyebrows among observers. The appointment of Antoni, who has openly criticized the agency, signals a shift in the approach to economic data collection that may have far-reaching consequences for how the economy is understood and managed [1]. Whether these changes will lead to a more accurate or more politicized view of economic conditions remains to be seen.

Source: [1] Trump Removal of BLS Commissioner Prompts Questions About Accuracy of Economic Stats (https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2025/08/13/trump-removal-of-bls-commissioner-prompts-questions-about-accuracy-of-economic-stats)