WASHINGTON — United States President Donald Trump on Monday picked a think tank economist to head the Bureau of Labor Statistics, replacing the commissioner he fired for reducing previously reported job growth estimates.

Trump said on social media that he is nominating E.J. Antoni to be commissioner of the bureau.

"Our economy is booming, and E.J. will ensure that the numbers released are honest and accurate," Trump said. "I know E.J. Antoni will do an incredible job in this new role."

Antoni is the chief economist at The Heritage Foundation's center for the federal budget, according to the conservative think tank's website.

Trump last week reiterated that a recent employment report "was rigged". He alleged that the commissioner of labor statistics, Erika McEntarfer, had manipulated data to diminish his administration's accomplishments.

US job growth missed expectations last month, figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed, and sharp revisions to hiring figures in recent months brought them to the weakest levels since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trump ordered the removal of McEntarfer hours after the figures were published.

White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett later conceded that the job market was indeed cooling.

US employment data point to challenges as companies took a cautious approach in hiring and investment while grappling with the administration's sweeping — and rapidly changing — tariffs this year.

The nomination of Antoni was met with reservations from economists.

"The nominee will result in a surge in demand for private label data," said Joe Brusuelas, chief economist at RSM US.

Groundwork Collaborative's head of policy and advocacy, Alex Jacquez, called Antoni a "sycophant", saying his selection was "a clear assault on independent analysis that will have far-reaching implications for the reliability of US economic data".

Antoni, whom the Senate must confirm, would take over an agency that has come under heightened scrutiny for the eroding quality of the data it produces.

Agencies - Xinhua