Senator Markwayne Mullin has called for reforms at the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), stating that the agency requires immediate changes to improve its reliability. In an opinion piece published in The Hill, Mullin argued that President Trump’s nominee, EJ Antoni, Ph.D., is suited to restore confidence and integrity at the BLS.
“For too long, America has been flying blind on our economic health. The Bureau of Labor Statistics is in desperate need of immediate reform and President Trump is putting the best team in place to do just that. EJ Antoni, Ph.D., will restore confidence and much needed integrity in the agency tasked with reporting on the state of our nation’s economy. The Bureau of Labor Statistics, which is most well-known for producing the monthly jobs report, must be the gold standard for labor data and a trusted source for Americans and partners worldwide,” Mullin said.
Mullin pointed out concerns about frequent revisions to BLS reports. He noted that this year saw two significant revisions, including both downward adjustments under Trump and overstated job growth figures during former President Joe Biden’s administration. According to Mullin, these inconsistencies undermine public trust in federal labor data.
“One major problem is that BLS jobs and economic reports are frequently revised. So far this year, we have seen not just one, but two historic revisions. These have included not only downward revisions under Trump but also vastly overstated job growth numbers under former President Joe Biden. Misleading numbers and inaccurate information threaten the bureau’s legitimacy. This is unacceptable and unsustainable,” he stated.
Mullin emphasized the importance of accurate data for American families and business owners making financial decisions: “The American people deserve better than lazy, incomplete or misrepresented statistics. Families and business owners deserve accurate data to be able to make informed economic decisions.”
He also referenced his own experience as a business owner who relies on federal economic data: “As a business owner myself, I’ve spent over 25 years planning for the success and longevity of my companies. Economic data is a critical tool that my team and I use, along with most business owners across the country, when planning for the future.”
Mullin criticized what he described as outdated methods at BLS: “How can businesses, communities and Congress be expected to make informed decisions if our labor statistics are not accurate? The bureau’s data collection process is outdated and hasn’t been changed in decades. Insane.”
He expressed support for Antoni’s nomination: “Antoni will finally bring the Bureau of Labor Statistics into the 21st century. We need people like him to revolutionize how the bureau gathers information and conducts surveys while also improving transparency and accountability. He will ensure data is collected, processed and disseminated in the most timely and precise way possible. Under his leadership, businesses, policymakers and the general public will once again be able to rely on accurate statistics from the bureau.”
Mullin credited recent Republican initiatives with supporting job growth since Trump returned to office: “BLS reform is just one way the Trump administration is delivering for American businesses and workers. Since Trump took office for his second term, we have seen over a half a million new jobs created in the private sector. Our economy is booming. His trade deals have brought companies back home to the United States, creating even more jobs. And Senate Republicans are backing him up with the recent passage of the Working Families Tax Cut Bill — which contains the largest tax relief for working-class families in American history, no tax on tips, and no tax on overtime pay.”
He addressed opposition from Senate Democrats regarding presidential nominees: “We have been in the Senate confirmation fight since day one with Secretaries Marco Rubio and Pete Hegseth, and we’re not slowing down now. Senate Democrats have shown historic levels of obstruction against the president’s nominees. Never before have we seen this madness. Presidents deserve to choose their own teams and their advisors.”
“Despite this ridiculous obstruction by Trump-hating liberal Democrats, we will get EJ Antoni, and all of the president’s nominees, confirmed,” Mullin said.
“As the economy continues to surge under Trump’s leadership, the Republican-led Senate has a responsibility to confirm the commander-in-chief’s choice to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It is far past time to get BLS back on track and working for our great American business community once again,” he concluded.
