The Controversy Over Suspending the U.S. Monthly Jobs Report
The Controversy Over Suspending the U.S. Monthly Jobs Report
A Shakeup at the Bureau of Labor Statistics
In early August 2025, President Donald Trump made a dramatic move by dismissing Erika McEntarfer, the Commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Her termination came just hours after the publication of a particularly weak July jobs report, which also involved substantial downward revisions to job figures for May and June. Trump publicly accused McEntarfer—without evidence—of skewing the numbers to hurt Republicans, calling it a “rigged” or “phony” jobs report WikipediaAP News.
The Controversial Nominee: E.J. Antoni
Shortly after McEntarfer's removal, Trump nominated Erwin John Antoni III (commonly known as E.J. Antoni), a Heritage Foundation economist, to lead the BLS WikipediaBusiness InsiderPoliticoWall Street Journal. Antoni, who earned his Ph.D. in economics in 2020 from Northern Illinois University, is recognized for his views on government spending and statistical analysis Wikipedia.
Suggesting a Suspension of the Monthly Report
In an interview with Fox News Digital conducted on August 4 and published just before his nomination, Antoni proposed an extraordinary change: suspend the monthly BLS employment report temporarily in favor of quarterly data, which he described as more accurate, though slower to publish CNNCNBCBusiness Insider. He argued that repeated and often sharp revisions to the monthly report have damaged confidence in the statistics and, in his view, hindered decision-making by investors, policymakers, and central bankers CNNBusiness InsiderThe Daily Beast.
Behind the Numbers: Routine Revisions
It’s worth noting that data revisions are a normal part of how the BLS operates. The agency routinely updates initial job estimates once more complete information becomes available, a process that can lead to sizable adjustments in either direction WENY NewsWikipedia. Following the onset of the pandemic, data collection has become even more complex, often due to low survey response rates and disruptions in businesses’ ability to report on time WENY NewsWikipedia.
For context, the May jobs estimate was revised down by 120,000—from 139,000 to 19,000—and June saw a staggering revision of 133,000 jobs—from 147,000 to just 14,000 CNNNewsweek. Despite such large swings, historical averages show monthly revisions of about 61,000 jobs before 2003 and around 51,000 since then—indicating that updates of this size, while significant, aren't unprecedented CNNNewsweek.
Headlines and Reactions
The nominee’s proposal triggered swift criticism across the economic community. Analysts warned that eliminating or delaying the monthly jobs report would impair the ability of policymakers—especially the Federal Reserve—to accurately gauge real-time developments in the labor market. Markets and institutions rely on this near-instant data to calibrate decisions; slowing its release may sow uncertainty Barron'sBusiness InsiderThe Daily BeastWall Street Journal.
“For businesses and the Fed to plan and respond effectively, they need timely data,” noted critics who warned that halting monthly reporting could fuel rumours of politicization of economic indicators Business InsiderThe Daily Beast. Others saw Antoni’s proposal as a dangerous departure from the statistical transparency that underpins policymaking The Daily BeastWall Street Journal.
However, others pointed out a potential legal barrier: U.S. law formally requires the BLS to publish “at least once each month” full data on employment, making suspension legally delicate if not impossible Barron's. Some argued that the BLS could delay initial estimates, for example by releasing August data later—but not eliminate the monthly report entirely Barron'sPolitico.
Stepping Back… or Not?
Following the backlash, Heritage Foundation economist Stephen Moore—who endorsed Antoni’s nomination—appeared on CNN to clarify that Antoni had reconsidered. Moore said Antoni now supports continuing monthly reporting alongside improved quarterly numbers News Channel Nebraska. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterated the administration’s position that monthly employment data “will continue” and should remain trustworthy News Channel NebraskaBusiness StandardBusiness Insider.
The Toll on BLS Morale
The abrupt firing of McEntarfer not only sparked speculation but also sent a wave of concern and frustration through BLS staff. According to internal emails obtained by reporters, employees reacted with words like “depressing” and “CRAZY!!”, while their acting commissioner, William Wiatrowski, reassured them that the Bureau’s mission remains constant despite leadership turmoil AP News.
Why the Monthly Jobs Report Matters
The monthly BLS Employment Situation report—covering job growth, unemployment, hourly earnings, and more—has been published without interruption since the early 20th century. It informs critical decisions globally, guiding central banks, markets, businesses, and governments The Washington PostWikipedia.
Scrapping this timely snapshot in favor of slower, quarterly figures could leave many stakeholders “flying blind,” especially during turning points in the economy News Channel NebraskaBusiness InsiderThe Daily Beast. Economists like Augustine Faucher emphasize that even flawed preliminary data, when interpreted alongside revisions, supplements like average hours and sector mix, conveys useful insight into economic trends News Channel Nebraska.
The Broader Implications
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Credibility at Stake: Trust in federal economic data is foundational. Proposals to delay or alter reporting risk undermining it The Daily BeastWall Street Journal.
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Politicization vs. Reform: Critics see Antoni’s stance as ideologically motivated rather than technically grounded, pointing to his partisan alignment and the lack of academic depth in labor economics Wall Street JournalNewsweek.
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Possible Legal Clash: The statutory requirement for monthly data poses a legal hurdle to implementing such a suspensive approach, even if hypothetically defensible Barron's.
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Market Disruption: Removing the early signal from the labor market could trigger volatility, with private data providers stepping in—but without the reach or authority of BLS data Barron'sBusiness Insider.
What Lies Ahead
Antoni's nomination will face Senate confirmation. Senators from both parties—some hopeful for reform, others warning of erosion of statistical independence—will scrutinize his qualifications, policy views, and the broader implications of his proposal Wall Street JournalPoliticoBarron's.
Modernizing data collection and improving methodological reliability is a worthwhile goal. But doing so by stepping back from a core function like monthly reporting raises thorny questions: Can accuracy be improved without sacrificing timeliness? Will the public and global markets maintain confidence amidst disruption? These issues will shape not just U.S. economic policy, but also the integrity of official statistical systems worldwide.
In summary, E.J. Antoni’s suggestion to suspend the long-standing monthly jobs report—despite later reassurances—triggered widespread concern over the reliability, independence, and integrity of U.S. economic data. Its implications reverberate beyond American borders, as economies everywhere rely on transparent and timely labor statistics to chart their course.
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