President Trump Nominates Brett Matsumoto to Lead Bureau of Labor Statistics

Trump Taps Veteran Economist for BLS Leadership

President Donald Trump announced on Friday, January 30, 2026, his intention to nominate Brett Matsumoto as the next commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The nomination aims to fill a critical leadership role that has been vacant since August 2025. Matsumoto's appointment requires confirmation by the Senate.

Matsumoto's Extensive Background in Economics

Brett Matsumoto brings a wealth of experience to the position. He has served as a veteran economist at the BLS since 2015, working within the division of prices and index number research. Currently, Matsumoto is a senior economist on the White House Council of Economic Advisers, a role he also held during President Trump's first term. He holds a Ph.D. in economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which he earned in 2015. President Trump described Matsumoto on Truth Social as a 'Brilliant, Reputable, and Trusted Economist' who he is confident 'has the expertise to QUICKLY fix the long history of issues at the BLS on behalf of the American People.'

Context of the BLS Vacancy

The commissioner position at the BLS has been open since August 1, 2025, when President Trump fired the previous commissioner, Erika McEntarfer. This dismissal followed the release of the July 2025 jobs report, which showed a weaker-than-expected addition of 73,000 new jobs and downward revisions to previous months' figures. President Trump publicly accused the BLS of 'manipulating the numbers' and releasing 'VERY inaccurate numbers,' claims that were disputed by economists across the political spectrum and former BLS commissioners. Following McEntarfer's removal, Trump initially nominated E.J. Antoni, a senior economist at the Heritage Foundation. However, that nomination was withdrawn in September 2025 due to controversy surrounding Antoni's past remarks and qualifications. William Wiatrowski has served as acting commissioner during the interim period.

The Critical Role of the Bureau of Labor Statistics

The BLS serves as the principal fact-finding agency for the U.S. government in the broad field of labor economics and statistics. It is responsible for collecting, processing, analyzing, and disseminating essential statistical data to the American public, Congress, other federal agencies, and businesses. This data includes crucial indicators such as:

• Inflation rates
• Unemployment rates
• Job growth figures
• Wage statistics

The integrity and accuracy of BLS data are vital for economic analysis, policymaking, and financial market decisions.