Block appointment of unqualified, unsuitable E.J. Antoni for BLS Commissioner

The nomination of E.J. Antoni to be the next Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics is deeply concerning and should be rejected by the Senate. Antoni has repeatedly attacked and undermined the credibility of the BLS jobs report, even suggesting the agency should suspend publishing the legally mandated monthly employment data. This unsubstantiated criticism calls into question his ability to lead the BLS in an impartial, nonpartisan manner. As economists have warned, halting publication of the monthly jobs report would be akin to "gouging out our eyes" - depriving businesses, policymakers, and the public of vital economic data needed to make informed decisions. The jobs report provides real-time labor market information that moves markets and guides monetary policy. Suspending it, as Antoni has proposed, would sow confusion and undermine trust in federal economic statistics. Furthermore, Antoni's background raises red flags about his suitability for this critical role. He has worked at partisan think tanks that have advocated controversial policies, and has echoed the President's baseless claims that BLS data is misleading. An individual who has displayed such overt political bias should not be entrusted to lead an agency whose credibility hinges on its independence and adherence to scientific integrity. The BLS Commissioner must be a steadfast defender of the agency's nonpartisan mission to accurately measure employment and labor conditions. Antoni's track record shows he lacks the objectivity and expertise required for this position. I urge you to reject his nomination and insist on a qualified candidate committed to upholding the BLS's vital role without political interference. Our nation's economic decision-making capabilities depend on it.