Trump Nominates Brett Matsumoto to Lead Bureau of Labor Statistics
Trump nominated Brett Matsumoto to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics and praised him in a Truth Social post.
Overview
President Donald Trump nominated Brett Matsumoto to be Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, announcing the selection in a Truth Social post that called him "Brilliant, Reputable, and Trusted."
The nomination follows Trump's August firing of former BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer after a July jobs report showed 73,000 payroll gains (later revised to 72,000) and revisions that reduced May–June jobs by 258,000, according to government data.
Omair Sharif said in a public post that Matsumoto is "an extremely solid choice," while critics pointed to the White House's withdrawn September nomination of E.J. Antoni amid questions about qualifications, according to press accounts.
Brett Matsumoto began at the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2015 and currently serves as a senior economist on the White House Council of Economic Advisers; if confirmed he would replace acting Commissioner William Wiatrowski, records show.
The Senate will consider Matsumoto's confirmation, and analysts say hearings are likely to focus on BLS data methodology and the circumstances surrounding McEntarfer's August dismissal, according to economic observers.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the nomination as contested by emphasizing institutional independence and prior conflicts with Trump. They lead with a fact-check (“There is no evidence…”), highlight the firing of the BLS director and data revisions, and note Antoni’s Jan. 6 presence—editorial choices that prioritize scrutiny over simple announcement. Direct Trump quotes remain source content.
Sources (7)
FAQ
Brett Matsumoto is a career economist who earned a bachelor's and master's from the University of Delaware and a PhD in economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2015. He has worked at the Bureau of Labor Statistics since 2015 as a supervisory research economist focusing on consumer prices, inflation measurement, and consumer expenditure, and currently serves as a senior economist on the White House Council of Economic Advisers.[1]
Trump fired former BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer in August after a July jobs report showed only 73,000 payroll gains (later revised to 72,000) and revisions reducing May-June jobs by 258,000. Trump alleged, without evidence, that the data was politically manipulated.
The BLS Commissioner leads the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which has about 2,000 employees and releases key economic data like jobs reports and the consumer price index. It is the only appointed position at the agency, serves a four-year term, and requires Senate confirmation.[1]
The White House withdrew the nomination of E.J. Antoni, a Heritage Foundation economist, in September due to questions about his qualifications, lack of Senate support, and reports of his presence at the January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection.[1]
Trump announced his intent to nominate Matsumoto via Truth Social, praising him as 'Brilliant, Reputable, and Trusted.' The nomination now awaits Senate confirmation, with hearings likely to focus on BLS data methodology and the prior commissioner's dismissal.
History
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