Washington, D.C. — President Donald Trump’s partisan firing of Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Commissioner Erika McEntarfer has triggered a crisis of public trust at an agency tasked with providing accurate and timely data to policymakers, businesses, and the public.
A new Center for American Progress analysis explains the ongoing challenges facing the BLS and the critical role of the next commissioner in restoring trust in the agency as the gold standard for data collection. The withdrawal of President Trump’s nominee E.J. Antoni to head the agency provides an opportunity for leaders to correct course.
The analysis finds chronic budget, staffing, and technological issues at the BLS, including:
- Proposed cuts of up to 32 percent less funding in fiscal year 2026 compared with FY 2010, risking the quality and integrity of datasets.
- A nearly 12 percent inflation-adjusted cut from FY 2025 for the agency in President Trump’s FY 2026 budget request.
- Vacancies of more than one-third of apolitical, career staff positions, with senior vacancies concentrated in positions related to the employment estimates.
“Now, more than ever, the Bureau of Labor Statistics needs an experienced leader who can set aside partisanship to focus on providing the public with the most accurate and timely numbers,” said Sara Estep, economist at CAP and co-author of the analysis. “Congress, businesses, and the Federal Reserve cannot afford to fly blind with inaccurate or unreliable data.”
Read the analysis: “The Next Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Must Restore Trust in the Agency While Managing Fiscal Constraints” by Sara Estep and Kyle Ross
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Christian Unkenholz at [email protected].