On January 31, 2026, President Trump of the United States announced his plan to nominate economist Brett Matsumoto as the director of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Matsumoto has been working at the BLS since 2015 and currently serves as a senior economist on the White House Council of Economic Advisers (CEA).
President Trump made the announcement of this nomination through Truth Social and expressed high hopes for the candidate. He pointed out that over the years, the data released by the BLS has been highly inaccurate, affecting American businesses, policymakers, and families.
Trump emphasized Matsumoto’s ample expertise, stating that he can represent the American people in swiftly resolving the longstanding issues at the Bureau of Labor Statistics, praising him as “a talented, reputable, and trustworthy economist who will make the BLS great again.”
This nomination must be approved by a vote in the Senate.
Brett Matsumoto holds a Ph.D. in economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Prior to serving in the White House, he was responsible for price and index research at the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Due to his long-standing tenure as a technocrat without clear party affiliations, some economists and investors worried about political interference in statistical data may find this appointment a relief.
Several economic experts have expressed their approval of this selection.
Omair Sharif, President of the financial research institution Inflation Insights, told Bloomberg, “…he is a smart, seasoned research economist who can understand subtle differences in data, especially in the realm of inflation.”
Erica Groshen, who served as the BLS commissioner during Matsumoto’s time, also believes that he possesses the necessary economics statistical professionalism and industry respect, deeming him “a very reasonable candidate.”
Bill Beach, who led the Bureau of Labor Statistics from 2019 to 2023, recalled Matsumoto as a delightful colleague and an outstanding researcher.
Beach told The Wall Street Journal, “I believe he would be a popular choice within the Bureau.”
The Bureau of Labor Statistics is a pivotal institution in the United States for releasing key economic indicators such as the unemployment rate, inflation rate, and employment growth. Since the dismissal of former commissioner Erika McEntarfer on August 1 last year, the position has been vacant for nearly six months.
Previously, Trump had nominated EJ Antoni, an economist from the Heritage Foundation, for the position, but due to controversies surrounding his political stance and lack of support in the Senate, the White House eventually withdrew the nomination.
If formally appointed, Matsumoto will face longstanding structural challenges at the Bureau, including budget stagnation for many years, recruitment freezes, and statistical data gaps arising from last year’s government shutdown.
Currently, the Bureau is being led by acting director William Wiatrowski, a senior member of the staff.