On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump nominated E.J. Anthony, chief economist at the conservative Heritage Foundation, to head the agency responsible for collecting and publishing employment and inflation data in the country. Trump stated on social media late Monday, “Our economy is thriving, and E.J. will ensure the released numbers are honest and accurate.” If confirmed by the Senate, Anthony will replace Erica McEntarfer, appointed by former President Joe Biden as commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, who was fired by Trump on August 1 after the July jobs report showed a sharp slowdown in employment this spring, with May and June employment figures revised down significantly from initial reports. Trump accused McEntarfer, without evidence, of falsifying job data for political reasons.

This announcement comes one day before the scheduled release of the latest inflation data for July from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, expected to show consumer prices rising for the third consecutive month amid tariff-driven increases in the cost of many imported goods.