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WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump announced on Friday his decision to nominate Brett Matsumoto, a seasoned government economist, to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This move comes after Trump previously criticized the agency, alleging that it intentionally released low monthly employment figures to tarnish his reputation.
Despite Trump’s claims, there is no substantiated evidence suggesting that the BLS manipulated data to undermine him. However, recent revisions to past reports over the summer indicated a slowdown in the job market following Trump’s return to the White House. In response, he dismissed the agency’s director in August.
Trump has consistently portrayed the BLS as a problematic entity, criticizing its previous leadership as “WEAK and STUPID,” according to a social media post he made on Friday night.
In contrast, Trump expressed confidence in Matsumoto’s ability to address any existing issues within the BLS. Matsumoto brings a wealth of experience, having served as a supervisory research economist at the agency and as a senior economist with the White House Council of Economic Advisers.
“Brett Matsumoto is a Brilliant, Reputable, and Trusted Economist who will restore GREATNESS to the Bureau of Labor Statistics,” Trump asserted on Truth Social, emphasizing his belief in Matsumoto’s capacity to revitalize the agency.
The president had initially picked E.J. Antoni, the chief economist at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank to lead the BLS. But the White House withdrew the nomination in September as Antoni faced sharp criticisms about his qualifications. NBC News also reported that Antoni was in the crowd outside the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.
Trump had the previous BLS commissioner, Erika McEntarfer, fired after the July jobs report was released in August. That jobs report showed that just 73,000 jobs were added last month and that 258,000 fewer jobs were created in May and June than previously estimated. The July figure has since been revised downward to 72,000.
The BLS also releases an array of economic reports, including the consumer price index that covers inflation.
The Wall Street Journal first reported Matsumoto’s selection by Trump.
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