ALSOBROOKS GRILLS WHITE HOUSE ECONOMIST ON AMERICA’S FAILING ECONOMY

June 10, 2026

WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) questioned the Trump Administration's nominee for Commissioner of Labor Statistics, Brett Matsumoto. The hearing was also for nominees James Macy to be a Member of the National Labor Relations Board and David Prouty to be a Member of the National Labor Relations Board.

During her questioning, Senator Alsobrooks grilled Mr. Matsumoto over the state of the economy and President Trump's claim that the economy is "booming."

At the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Mr. Matsumoto served in the Division of Price and Index Number Research - focused on measuring health-insurance and medical prices for Americans. He is considered an expert on pricing data. Yet he was unable to answer objectively or directly that the data on price increases - from groceries to gas to health care - contradicts the President's claims that the economy is "booming." This comes after the President politicized the work of the agency with his firing of the previous Commissioner, Erika McEntarfer, after the Bureau of Labor Statistics released a jobs report in August 2025 that reflected weak job growth.

Senator Alsobrooks will be voting against Mr. Matsumoto.

WATCH SENATOR ALSOBROOKS' FULL QUESTIONING HERE

Highlights from their exchange:

Senator Alsobrooks: I wondered, Mr. Matsumoto, would you agree with the President that this economy is booming?

Brett Matsumoto: So, as Commissioner of Labor Statistics, I don't think it is appropriate that I be viewed as either a cheerleader or a critic of the economy, no matter what is happening. I think it is important that there is faith that the data being presented…

Senator Alsobrooks: I am not asking you to be a cheerleader. But let me ask you this, do you know how much, for example, the cost of ground beef has increased over the last year?

Brett Matsumoto: I do because it is a category in the consumer prices.

Senator Alsobrooks: 21%. Do you know how much the cost of orange juice has increased over the past year?

Brett Matsumoto: I do not.

Senator Alsobrooks: About 23%. So you, sir, are currently a White House Senior Economist at the White House and at the Council of Economic Advisers. So I am sure you are also just paying attention to grocery prices and the rising cost. Do you acknowledge then that grocery prices have increased for Americans?

Brett Matsumoto: I believe that the CPI data are accurate.

Senator Alsobrooks: Meaning, yes, they have increased. Correct?

Brett Matsumoto: I believe grocery prices in the CPI have increased, yes.

Senator Alsobrooks: And you acknowledge gas prices have increased for Americans since the start of this Administration as well?

That is easy, right?

Brett Matsumoto: Like I said, my focus is on making sure the data presented are right.

Senator Alsobrooks: You are saying this is accurate data. The gas prices have increased. The health care prices, those have increased as well, right? You are a Senior Economist. I am asking you. You know the answers to these, right?

Brett Matsumoto: Yes. My role at the CEA is to provide feedback and analysis.

Senator Alsobrooks: I am just asking a specific question. Do you acknowledge health care prices have increased for Americans since the start of this Administration?

Brett Matsumoto: I believe the CPI is accurate in that matter.

Senator Alsobrooks: Ok then, so do you still agree with the President that, despite rising costs for Americans, that the economy is booming?

Brett Matsumoto: Again, that is not a type of statement that the BLS Commissioner would make.

Senator Alsobrooks: What I am saying is, does the data support that?

Brett Matsumoto: The BLS presents data objectively.

Senator Alsobrooks: Ok. Well sir, it is not intellectually honest to say rising prices, Americans cannot afford the cost, and to say that the economy is booming for them. Is that fair to say?

Brett Matsumoto: Ummm, I don't quite follow.

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