Particle.news
Download on the App Store
21 ARTICLES
·
2w ago

Trump Appoints Acting BLS Chief as Search Begins for Independent Successor

William Wiatrowski is serving in an interim role following the August 1 dismissal, with critics warning that proposed budget cuts combined with political influence threaten BLS credibility during the search for a nonpartisan successor

Image
Recruiters and job seekers speak during a job fair in Chicago, Illinois on June 26th.
Image

Overview

  • William Wiatrowski, a longtime Bureau of Labor Statistics official, took over as acting commissioner after President Trump fired Erika McEntarfer on August 1 following the weak July jobs report and large downward revisions to May and June data.
  • The administration has proposed an 8% cut to the BLS budget for the next fiscal year and the elimination of 150 positions, fueling concerns over the agency’s ability to gather and analyze employment statistics.
  • In March 2025, the Department of Labor disbanded two unpaid BLS advisory committees, and experts have called for their reinstatement to ensure methodological oversight and transparency.
  • White House economic advisers are framing the leadership change as an opportunity to modernize BLS operations through expanded digital data integration and artificial intelligence techniques.
  • Economists and former BLS leaders stress that selecting a nominee perceived as nonpartisan and independent will be crucial to preserving trust in the nation’s premier labor market statistics.