Key facts
- E.J. Antoni, nominated by President Donald Trump to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), has withdrawn his nomination.
- Critics cited Antoni's perceived partisanship and lack of relevant expertise for the role.
- The BLS produces key economic reports, including jobs and inflation data.
- Trump had previously fired the former BLS commissioner, Erika McEntarfer, over a jobs report.
- The White House confirmed Antoni's withdrawal and indicated a new nominee would be selected shortly.
President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), E.J. Antoni, has withdrawn his candidacy following significant criticism regarding his qualifications and perceived partisan leanings. Antoni, the chief economist at the conservative Heritage Foundation, was tapped by Trump in August after the abrupt dismissal of the previous commissioner, Erika McEntarfer.
Trump had cited concerns over the integrity of economic data, specifically a jobs report, as justification for McEntarfer's firing, though he offered no evidence for claims of manipulation. Antoni's nomination itself faced opposition from economists and former BLS officials, who argued he lacked the necessary technical expertise and a non-partisan background typical for the role. Critics, including Jason Furman of Harvard Kennedy School, deemed him "completely unqualified" and an "extreme partisan."
Supporters of the BLS, such as the group Friends of the BLS, had urged the president to select a nominee committed to "gold standard statistics" and possessing strong management and economics training. The Heritage Foundation, however, defended Antoni, with president Kevin Roberts calling him "one of the sharpest economic minds."
The BLS is responsible for producing crucial economic indicators like monthly jobs and inflation reports. The agency has also faced challenges including workforce reductions and falling survey response rates, impacting its data-gathering processes.