Trump picks E.J. Antoni to lead Bureau of Labor Statistics: What to know

This story appeared in The Logoff, a every day publication that helps you keep knowledgeable concerning the Trump administration with out letting political information take over your life. Subscribe right here.Welcome to The Logoff: President Donald Trump introduced his new nominee to move the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Monday night, lower than two weeks after firing the company’s earlier commissioner.Who does Trump need to run BLS? E.J. Antoni, the chief economist on the Heritage Basis, a right-wing suppose tank, is Trump’s selection for the highest job at BLS. Antoni will should be confirmed by the Senate earlier than taking the job.What do I must find out about him? Antoni’s nomination has many economists significantly involved. BLS, which gives knowledge concerning the state of the US financial system, is a historically nonpartisan company, and Antoni is something however nonpartisan: He’s a longtime critic of the company who contributed to Undertaking 2025, the Heritage Basis blueprint for a second Trump administration, and he’s extensively thought of to be underqualified for the job.Much more alarming, Antoni steered on Monday that BLS might cease issuing month-to-month jobs experiences, which give a daily take a look at the state of the US financial system and assist information financial decision-making. As an alternative, he steered, the company would launch solely quarterly knowledge.What’s the context for Antoni’s nomination? Trump wants a brand new BLS commissioner as a result of he fired the final one, Erika McEntarfer, after the company launched jobs numbers that confirmed hiring at effectively beneath anticipated ranges.The choice raised issues that Trump’s subsequent choose would really feel strain to report higher numbers, whatever the true totals. Antoni’s background and feedback do little to dispel that concern.What’s the massive image? As my colleague Andrew Prokop has written, it’s unclear how a lot room the BLS head really has to fudge jobs numbers — but when it occurs, it will push the US into territory usually occupied by authoritarian regimes. It will probably additionally include critical financial penalties, undermining each confidence within the US financial system and the information that regulators and corporations use to make main selections, like setting rates of interest.And with that, it’s time to sign off…From Defector and the brand new publication FOIAball, right here’s a narrative that mixes two nice tastes that style nice collectively: school soccer and Freedom of Data Act legal guidelines. FOIAball obtained a bundle of paperwork concerning the sometimes-stringent necessities for the scholars behind among the best-known mascots in school sports activities, and the ensuing piece from David Covucci is each hilarious and genuinely fascinating. With that, I hope you might have a terrific night and we’ll see you again right here tomorrow. Till then, lengthy stay Willie the Wildcat (Northwestern’s Model)!