Key facts
- The U.S. Senate confirmed Brett Matsumoto as the new commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Matsumoto, a career economist and inflation expert, was confirmed by a vote of 51-47.
- Matsumoto joined the BLS in 2015 and previously worked at the White House Council of Economic Advisers.
- The previous commissioner, Erika McEntarfer, was dismissed by President Donald Trump over alleged data manipulation.
- Matsumoto expressed a commitment to maintaining the integrity and independence of the BLS.
- The BLS faces significant challenges including underfunding, staff shortages, and reduced data collection.
The U.S. Senate has confirmed Brett Matsumoto as the new commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) by a vote of 51-47. Matsumoto, a career economist and inflation expert who joined the BLS in 2015, steps into the role following the controversial dismissal of his predecessor, Erika McEntarfer, by President Donald Trump a year prior over concerns about employment numbers.
Trump had accused McEntarfer of manipulating the July 2025 employment report, which showed slower-than-expected job growth and significant downward revisions to prior months' payroll figures. No evidence of data manipulation has been presented, and the BLS has even reported job losses in some months. The dismissal followed the Trump administration's disbanding of BLS and Commerce Department advisory boards.
During his confirmation hearing, Matsumoto emphasized his commitment to the BLS's mission of producing objective, quality measures and assured lawmakers that decisions would be driven by science, not politics. He noted he would be the only political appointee at the agency, with any data changes approved and communicated by career staff.
Private economists and former BLS Commissioner Erica Groshen welcomed Matsumoto's appointment, highlighting his internal BLS experience and lack of political publications as factors that could help restore trust in the agency's data. However, significant challenges await Matsumoto. The BLS has suffered from years of inadequate funding, leading to a loss of experienced staff and a reduction in data collection, including the Consumer Price Index sample and numerous producer price indexes.
Furthermore, the Trump administration's push to reclassify tens of thousands of government employees under "Schedule Policy/Career" raises concerns about job protections and the potential for political loyalists to replace career staff, which could undermine the statistical agency's independence and public trust.