The Trump administration has officially withdrawn the nomination of conservative economist E.J. Antoni to head the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The announcement came on September 30, following weeks of mounting hesitation from Republican senators regarding his appointment.
Despite President Trump’s strong backing, the Senate committee overseeing the Labor Department never scheduled a confirmation hearing.
Political and Economic Context
President Trump nominated Antoni in August after firing former BLS head Erika McEntarfer, accusing her without evidence of manipulating labor data.
Antoni’s critics expressed concern that his appointment would undermine the independence and credibility of U.S. economic statistics, which are vital for investors, policymakers, and businesses worldwide.
Several Republican senators, including Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, voiced reservations about Antoni’s nomination. According to a source familiar with the process, other Republicans shared similar concerns, ultimately contributing to the decision to pull the nomination.
Reactions from Economists and Analysts
Antoni, currently the chief economist at the Heritage Foundation, has long criticized the BLS for its reporting methods. His proposed leadership of the agency was described by some experts as a threat to the reliability of official data.
- Joe Brusuelas, chief economist at RSM US, predicted that Antoni’s appointment would increase reliance on private economic data sources.
- Alex Jacquez of Groundwork Collaborative called the nomination “a clear assault on independent analysis” with potential long-term consequences for public trust in government statistics.
Broader Implications and Shutdown Concerns
The nomination controversy comes as the U.S. faced the risk of a government shutdown on September 30, after the Senate failed to approve a stopgap funding measure. A shutdown would delay the highly anticipated September jobs report, adding further uncertainty to economic analysis.
Trump’s earlier dismissal of McEntarfer, following weaker-than-expected job growth reports and large revisions to past employment figures, has already raised doubts about the administration’s handling of economic data.
What’s Next?
The White House stated that President Trump will announce a new nominee “very soon”, underscoring his administration’s ongoing efforts to reshape how labor market statistics are produced and interpreted.
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