Trump Names Heritage’s EJ Antoni to Lead Bureau of Labor Statistics

President Donald TRUMP has appointed EJ Antoni, chief economist of the conservative Heritage Foundation, to head the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The decision follows the abrupt dismissal of former BLS chief Erika McEntarfer earlier this month, after a report showed weaker-than-expected job growth and significant downward revisions to prior months' data.

Antoni, a vocal critic of BLS methodologies, will now oversee the agency responsible for key economic indicators. Trump framed the MOVE as ensuring "HONEST and ACCURATE" reporting, though economists across the political spectrum have defended the BLS's nonpartisan track record.

The leadership shakeup comes amid heightened scrutiny of economic data ahead of the 2024 election. Market participants typically monitor BLS releases for signals on Fed policy, which directly impacts cryptocurrency valuations.