President Trump plans to nominate economist Brett Matsumoto to head the Bureau of Labor Statistics, elevating a career staffer who has worked at the agency since 2015.

President Donald Trump says he is nominating the government economist Brett Matsumoto to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics

The decision to nominate Brett Matsumoto, a career government economist, came six months after the president fired the previous commissioner.

Brett Matsumoto, who has been with the BLS for over 10 years, may end the monthslong search for a new commissioner after Trump fired the last one.

Matsumoto's nomination requires confirmation by the Senate.

President Trump said he would nominate the longtime government economist to lead BLS after firing Erika McEntarfer as commissioner after a dismal jobs report.

President Donald Trump has nominated senior economist Brett Matsumoto from the White House Council of Economic Advisers to head the beleaguered Bureau of Labor Statistics after he fired the agency’s previous commissioner last year.

Washington, DC, January 29, 2026-- Nonfarm business sector labor productivity increased 4.9% in Q3 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported, as output increased 5.4% and hours worked increased 0.5%. From the same quarter a year ago, nonfarm business sector labor productivity increased 1.9% in Q3 2025.