Trump Fires Official Behind Monthly Jobs Report After Weak Data, Nominates Controversial Heritage Foundation Economist
President Donald Trump fired the head of the government agency that produces monthly jobs reports on August 1 after disappointing employment data, then nominated Heritage Foundation economist E.J. Antoni to replace her, sparking unprecedented criticism from economists across the political spectrum.
The dramatic move came after the Bureau of Labor Statistics released data showing the U.S. added only 73,000 jobs in July, down from 147,000 in June, with significant downward revisions for previous months. The monthly jobs report is one of the most closely watched economic indicators on Wall Street and often moves stock markets. Trump baselessly accused Erika McEntarfer, the commissioner who oversees the monthly jobs report, of having “faked” statistics and claimed the employment data was “RIGGED.”
“I believe the numbers were phony just like they were before the election,” Trump said. “So you know what I did? I fired her. And you know what? I did the right thing.”
The situation has drawn comparisons to Trump’s actions during the 2020 election, when he pressured Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to “find 11,780 votes” after election results did not support his claims. Some economists express concern about similar pressure being applied to economic data, where officials might face demands to present more favorable employment or inflation figures.
This concern intensified following Thursday’s inflation report showing wholesale prices rose 0.9% in July—exceeding the expected 0.2% increase and marking the largest monthly increase since June 2022, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Data Reliability Concerns Mount
Antoni’s selection would bring a more partisan approach to the federal agency responsible for producing monthly employment and inflation reports. The position is typically filled by statisticians with extensive technical experience rather than political commentators.
“There’s just nothing in his writing or his resume to suggest that he’s qualified for the position, besides that he is always manipulating the data to favor Trump in some way,” said Brian Albrecht, chief economist at the International Center for Law and Economics.
Antoni has made several economic claims that economists have disputed:
– Claimed the economy was in recession since 2022, using housing inflation measures that other economists questioned
– Called for replacing the entire Federal Reserve board
– Posted social media charts that suggested inflation would reach 15%
– Proposed ending Social Security payments for a generation of workers
In a Fox News interview before his nomination, Antoni suggested the government should stop publishing monthly jobs reports until data collection improves.
The controversy comes as the economy shows mixed indicators. While July’s jobs report showed weakness, recent GDP data indicated 3% growth, and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has maintained the central bank operates independently while monitoring tariff-related inflation risks.
Questions about the reliability of economic statistics could affect Federal Reserve decisions, Social Security adjustments, and financial markets. McEntarfer, Antoni’s predecessor, was a 20-year federal government veteran with experience at the Census Bureau and Treasury Department who was confirmed by the Senate in 2024.
The Senate will consider Antoni’s nomination, with Democrats expected to oppose his confirmation.
