WASHINGTON – The economist chosen by President Donald Trump to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics told lawmakers Wednesday that he remains dedicated to preserving the agency’s independence and integrity while ensuring it continues delivering high-quality, “objective” economic data about the United States.
Brett Matsumoto, currently on leave from the economic data agency to serve with the White House’s Council of Economic Advisers, delivered these comments during the opening of his confirmation hearing before the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
The nomination of Matsumoto came earlier this year as Trump sought new leadership for the agency responsible for generating some of the nation’s most vital economic indicators. This followed the dismissal of former commissioner Erika McEntarfer in August, which occurred after the release of a monthly jobs report containing unusually large adjustments to previously published employment data.
