President Donald Trump has nominated economist Brett Matsumoto to serve as commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, according to a Truth Social post. The nomination would elevate a longtime career staffer to lead the federal government’s primary agency for economic statistics.
“For many years, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, under WEAK and STUPID people, has been FAILING American Businesses, Policymakers, and Families by releasing VERY inaccurate numbers. That is why I FIRED the former Commissioner, and am pleased to nominate the very talented Brett Matsumoto as the next Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS),” Trump wrote.
The BLS has been without a commissioner since Trump fired its previous chief on Aug. 1 after the agency released data showing weakness in the job market.
“Brett was a Supervisory Research Economist for the BLS, but is now serving as a Senior Economist on the Trump Council of Economic Advisers, like he did in my First Term,” Trump wrote.
“I am confident that Brett has the expertise to QUICKLY fix the long history of issues at the BLS on behalf of the American People,” he added.
Matsumoto has worked as an economist at the BLS since 2015.
Before joining the White House Council of Economic Advisers on a temporary assignment last year, he had no experience working in a political role.
He earned a Ph.D. in economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2015.
Matsumoto did not respond to requests for comment.
“Brett Matsumoto is a Brilliant, Reputable, and Trusted Economist who will restore GREATNESS to the Bureau of Labor Statistics,” Trump wrote. “Congratulations Brett!”
Trump’s decision to nominate a long-serving official without a deeply partisan background is expected to reassure economists and investors concerned about political interference at the agency.
Trump removed former commissioner Erika McEntarfer hours after the BLS released large downward revisions to prior job growth estimates.
The move raised concerns that Trump believed he could replace her with a leader who would produce statistics more favorable to him.
Last fall, Trump nominated E.J. Antoni, an economist at the conservative Heritage Foundation, to lead the agency.
Antoni had no federal government experience and limited academic research, prompting criticism from economists across the political spectrum.
The White House later withdrew the nomination before the Senate could consider it.
The BLS employs more than 2,000 people and publishes key economic indicators, including unemployment, inflation, and monthly job growth.
Although the agency operates within the Labor Department, its nonpartisan economists compile data independently of the commissioner, the agency’s sole political appointee.
The BLS plays a critical role for investors, business leaders, and Federal Reserve officials assessing the health of the U.S. economy.
Last fall’s six-week interruption in BLS data during a government shutdown highlighted the agency’s importance and the limits of private-sector alternatives.
Congressional funding for the agency has stagnated for years, reducing its inflation-adjusted budget.
A federal hiring freeze last year forced the BLS to scale back inflation surveys in some regions due to staffing shortages.
Economists have also criticized some methods the agency used to estimate missing data during the shutdown, warning that inaccurate inflation readings could persist for months.
The BLS has said it followed established contingency plans for handling missing data.
Matsumoto’s nomination would require Senate confirmation.
Since August, the agency has been led on an acting basis by longtime staff economist William Wiatrowski.