“President Trump\u2019s nominee to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics has drawn surprising opposition from conservative economists, and for good reason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When Trump fired Erika McEntarfer, the former commissioner, he baselessly denounced her for publishing \u201crigged\u201d job numbers to make him look bad. Her replacement, whom Trump capitalized as \u201cHighly Respected Economist, Dr. E.J. Antoni,\u201d would supposedly \u201censure that the Numbers released are HONEST and ACCURATE.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t count on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Almost nobody bought Trump\u2019s claim. Antoni has meager credentials and no relevant experience for leading an agency with over 2,000 employees, responsible for measuring all \u201clabor market activity, working conditions, price changes and productivity in the U.S. economy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Antoni is just five years out of graduate school at Northern Illinois University. His only professional jobs have been with right-wing policy shops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Economists from multiple conservative think tanks have weighed in against Antoni\u2019s appointment, citing his inexperience and incompetence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The American Enterprise Institute\u2019s Stan Veuger warned that Antoni\u2019s work \u201chas frequently included elementary errors or nonsensical choices that all bias his findings in the same partisan direction.\u201d His colleague Derek Scissors was even more dismissive, saying Antoni \u201cwrites drivel for political reasons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
David Herbert, of the American Institute for Economic Research, called for the Senate to reject Antoni\u2019s nomination, citing \u201chis inability to understand basic economics.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Likewise, Daniel DiMartino of the Manhattan Institute called Antoni \u201cunqualified for the labor market data collection and analysis role\u201d when he doesn\u2019t know what he\u2019s \u201ctalking about.\u201d Jessica Riedl, another Manhattan Institute fellow, described Antoni\u2019s publications as \u201cprobably the most error-filled of any think tank economist.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even the Wall Street Journal editorial board, ordinarily supportive of Trump\u2019s nominees, was skeptical, noting that Antoni\u2019s \u201ccommentary at Heritage has been highly partisan,\u201d while the BLS job \u201cdemands nonpartisan professionalism.\u201d”<\/p>\n\n\n\n