President Trump's nomination of E.J. Antoni to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has sparked sharp pushback from economists, who are questioning his qualifications and potential impact on the agency.

The appointment of Antoni, a vocal advocate for conservative economic policies, has drawn criticism from experts in the field. Jason Furman, a former chief economic adviser in the Obama White House, described Antoni as "completely unqualified" and "an extreme partisan," warning that his appointment would mark a break from decades of nonpartisan technocrats at the BLS.

Justin Wolfers, an economics professor at the University of Michigan, took aim at Antoni's credentials, saying he was "disastrously terrible" as a choice for leading the agency. Wolfers pointed out that Antoni had never done work involving data collection or labor markets and had not published any peer-reviewed work. In fact, Wolfers suggested that Antoni's record would be insufficient to earn him a job as a junior staffer at the BLS.

Despite these criticisms, Trump's nominee is already suggesting changes to the way the BLS operates. In an interview on Fox Business ahead of his nomination, Antoni criticized the monthly employment report, saying it was flawed and should be replaced with "more accurate, though less timely, quarterly data."

The suggestion has sparked concern among economists and business leaders, who rely on the monthly job reports to gauge the health of the economy. The Federal Reserve, in particular, is likely to feel the impact of such a change, as it uses the report to inform its monetary policy decisions.

Trump's nomination of Antoni raises questions about his commitment to objective, data-driven decision-making at the BLS. With his appointment, the agency's focus on providing accurate and timely economic data could be put at risk, potentially harming the broader economy and undermining trust in government institutions.

The nomination also highlights the growing divide between Trump's administration and the independent experts who advise him on economic policy. As the administration continues to push for conservative economic policies, it is likely that more challenges from economists and business leaders will follow.