The White House has abruptly withdrawn E.J. Antoni, a conservative economist, from consideration as the next commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, raising questions about the direction of economic data under President Trump’s administration.
According to NBC News, the decision came on Tuesday, following scrutiny over Antoni’s past statements and his presence near the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.
A White House official praised Antoni, stating, “Dr. E.J. Antoni is a brilliant economist and an American patriot who will continue to do good work on behalf of our great country.” Yet, the sudden retreat suggests deeper concerns about his fit for a role that demands unimpeachable credibility in handling sensitive economic figures.
In August, President Trump nominated Antoni after dismissing the previous BLS chief, Erika McEntarfer, citing a disappointing jobs report. That report revealed the U.S. added a mere 73,000 jobs in July, with sharp downward revisions for May and June.
Trump publicly criticized the data, claiming without proof that the June report was “rigged” to damage Republicans and himself. His assertion that McEntarfer “faked the Jobs Numbers” before an election ignores the reality, as multiple former commissioners confirmed the BLS head has no role in compiling these reports.
Antoni was pitched as a reformer who would “ensure that the numbers released are honest and accurate.” But one has to wonder if such rhetoric is more about political theater than fixing a system already deemed a global standard.
As chief economist at the Heritage Foundation, Antoni has often lauded Trump’s policies in his writings, aligning himself with a distinctly conservative economic view. His association with Project 2025 and endorsement by Steve Bannon further cemented his image as a partisan pick.
His skepticism of BLS data, including a pre-nomination Fox Business interview where he suggested suspending monthly jobs reports for quarterly ones, rattled markets and businesses. The White House later clarified that monthly reports would continue as planned, revealing a disconnect in messaging.
While Antoni’s economic sharpness is undisputed, as Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts noted, “E.J.’s immense capabilities and insightful economic analysis have not changed,” his polarizing stances may have made him a liability for a role requiring neutrality. Trust in data shouldn’t be a partisan football.
The White House’s description of Antoni as a “bystander” at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, added fuel to the controversy surrounding his nomination. While no wrongdoing was alleged, the optics of such proximity to a deeply divisive event likely didn’t help his case.
Senate HELP Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy, R-La., expressed disappointment over the withdrawal, noting he was eager to discuss BLS reforms with Antoni at a planned, though unscheduled, confirmation hearing. Cassidy’s commitment to “deliver accurate, reliable economic data” signals that the issue won’t fade quietly.
The BLS role, though not typically subject to confirmation hearings, became a lightning rod under Antoni’s nomination. Perhaps the lesson here is that economic data, vital to businesses and policymakers worldwide, demands a steward above political suspicion.
The White House official assured that President Trump “plans to announce a new nominee very soon” to address what they call “longstanding failures” at the BLS. Public trust in economic data, already strained by political rhetoric, hangs in the balance with this next choice.
Despite occasional lags in BLS survey responses due to the vast scale of the U.S. economy, there’s no evidence of manipulation or deceit in the numbers. Painting these reports as unreliable without proof risks undermining confidence in a system that’s long been a benchmark globally.
Whoever steps into this role next must prioritize transparency over agenda. America’s economic health, as reflected in BLS data, isn’t a game to be played for political points—it’s the foundation businesses and families rely on to plan their futures.
