Washington, DC – Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), member of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), today called for E.J. Antoni, Chief Economist at a conservative think tank and President Trump’s pick to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics, to testify in front of the HELP Committee.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics, an agency officially a part of the Department of Labor, has historically operated with a large measure of political objectivity and independence, making it one of the more trusted sources of critical labor statistics – like employment, inflation, and wages – used by Fed officials and economists around the world.
“In one of his most brazen moves yet, President Trump fired former BLS Commissioner Dr. McEntarfer after official job numbers failed to align with the narrative his administration is trying to promote – only to appoint E.J. Antoni, a partisan ideologue and devout Trump loyalist, who is wholly underqualified to lead this critical agency. As the former Secretary of Labor in Delaware, this decision is not only alarming to me, it’s also incredibly dangerous to America’s credibility on the economic world stage. Antoni is an extremist who has a significant history of rejecting facts and distorting economic statistics to support partisan positions, a history that does not align with the mission of the BLS. I do not believe he can be trusted to accurately communicate complex economic data. I also believe his appointment could have devastating economic impacts if the country and the rest of the world can no longer trust statistics coming out of this crucial agency.
“In President Trump’s first eight months in office, he has made a habit of ousting trusted public servants and installing loyalists who have no problem peddling outright lies to the American public. At a time when costs remain sky high for most Americans, with even higher costs on the horizon due to Trump’s tariffs and his tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy, this decision could have potentially catastrophic economic consequences. Mr. Antoni will need to be confirmed by the entire Senate, so it’s only appropriate that he defend his qualifications and positions in front of our committee and directly to the American people.”
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Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester represents Delaware in the United States Senate where she serves on the Committees on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Environment and Public Works; and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.