President Donald Trump has nominated E.J. Antoni, an economist with the conservative Heritage Foundation, to lead the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
The Nomination
In a post on Truth Social, the president called Antoni a “Highly Respected Economist.”
“Our Economy is booming, and E.J. will ensure that the Numbers released are HONEST and ACCURATE,” the president added. “I know E.J. Antoni will do an incredible job in this new role. Congratulations E.J.!”
Antoni currently serves as the chief economist and Richard Aster Fellow in The Heritage Foundation’s Grover M. Hermann Center for the Federal Budget. He previously served as an economist at Texas Public Policy Foundation, has taught economics courses, and holds master’s and doctoral degrees in Economics.
If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Antoni will replace previous BLS commissioner Erika McEntarfer, who President Trump claimed “faked” economic data before the 2024 election. The president fired her on August 1.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics
The Bureau of Labor Statistics is an agency of the U.S. Department of Labor. It is the principal fact-finding agency for the U.S. government in measuring labor economics and statistics.
BLS is responsible for publishing the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the government’s official measure of the price of goods and services, which is updated monthly. The agency also measures the U.S. unemployment rate, payroll employment, average hourly earnings and other economic statistics.
For most people, such work sounds as fun as watching paint dry. However, accurate jobs and inflation numbers are crucial in representing the health of the American economy, and thereby, the financial health of American families.
The word “economy” is derived from the Greek works oikos (meaning “household”) and nomos (meaning “management”). Therefore, economic statistics and measurements serve as important indicators of the health of American households. Economics matters because families matter.
Inflation
Beginning in 2021, the U.S. experienced its worst inflation crisis in decades due to monetary policy decisions and government actions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the BLS, the inflation rate peaked at 9.1% in 2022, meaning the average price of goods and services rose nearly 10% in just one year.
However, in an interview with the Daily Citizen in 2022, Antoni explained how the BLS manipulated inflation data to make the economy appear far rosier than it was in reality.
The BLS reported in July 2022 that housing costs had increased only 5.6% in one year. But according to other calculations, housing prices had really shot up at least 20%.
“The CPI should be much higher than 9.1%,” Antoni told us at the time. “When you figure that the cost of housing is one-third of the CPI, that would push the CPI well into double digits.”
If the agency had reported data more accurately, the overall inflation rate would have been around 14%. That number would have painted a far more accurate picture of the financial struggles American families faced – and are still facing – to afford the skyrocketing cost of living.
On Tuesday, BLS reported the CPI increased at a 2.7% annualized rate in July 2025. So, while the inflation rate has slowed, goods and services still cost much more than they did just a few years ago.
According to the BLS CPI Inflation Calculator, $100 in January 2020 has the same purchasing power as $125 today. But again, this is likely understated.
Family Finances
Today, many families are reporting financial difficulties, with 53% of people saying grocery costs are a “major” stressor, according to a new poll conducted by The Associated Press.
According to a 2018 survey by Ramsey Solutions, money fights are the second leading cause of divorce, behind infidelity.
“Both high levels of debt and a lack of communication are major causes for the stress and anxiety surrounding household finances,” the survey found. The report also found:
- Nearly two-thirds of all marriages start off in debt.
- One-third of people who say they argued with their spouse about money say they hid a purchase from their spouse because they knew their partner would not approve.
- Ninety-four percent of respondents who say they have a “great” marriage discuss their money dreams with their spouse.
- Sixty-three percent of those with $50,000 or more in debt feel anxious about talking about their personal finances.
A recent survey released by Focus on the Family concurred, with survey participants listing financial struggles as one of the five most common marriage problems faced by couples.
Craig Constantinos, MA, LPCC in the Counseling Services Department at Focus on the Family, told the Daily Citizen about how families can handle financial struggles.
“Stress and anxiety about the economy can often lead to frustration and conflict in marriages, as finances is one of the areas where different perspectives are most obvious,” Constantinos said.
“Having a grace-filled conversation about budgets and spiritual and financial goals can lead to deeper understanding in a marriage, which can turn the challenge of financial uncertainty into an opportunity to build one’s relationship with God and their spouse.”
What’s Next
Now, Antoni must be confirmed by the Senate to become commissioner of the BLS.
Hopefully Antoni will bring needed reform to the BLS and help our government publish accurate and honest economic data, reflecting the financial realities American families face.
If you’re struggling and need to speak with someone, Focus on the Family offers a free, one-time counseling consultation with a licensed or pastoral counselor. To request a counseling consultation, you can call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) or fill out our Counseling Consultation Request Form.
In addition, you can purchase a copy of Dave Ramsey’s bestseller The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness from the Focus on the Family bookstore.
Related articles and resources:
Counseling Consultation & Referrals
God-Honoring Money Habits for Kids
Equipping Your Kids to Handle Money
Getting a Reluctant Spouse Onboard with Budgeting
Money Talk: The ‘You’ in ‘Unity’ is Silent
New Family Affordability Survey Finds ‘Catastrophic Erosion’ of Middle-Class Life in America
Photo Credit: Truth Social.
