US President Donald Trump has retracted his nomination of EJ Antoni, a conservative economist, to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This nomination followed the dismissal of the previous BLS chief, Erika McEntarfer, who was terminated in August during her term after a disappointing jobs report.
While some conservatives commended the choice of Dr. Antoni, other independent economists expressed concerns regarding his qualifications for the position. A White House spokesperson indicated that the president plans to announce a new candidate for the BLS role in the near future.
The spokesperson described Dr. Antoni as a skilled economist dedicated to serving the nation, asserting that President Trump aims to address the perceived deficiencies at the BLS that have affected public confidence in economic data.
The appointment of the new BLS commissioner will require confirmation from the US Senate, which is currently under Republican control. The BLS has not yet issued a statement regarding the recent developments, and attempts to reach Dr. Antoni for comments are ongoing.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgypv52kzyo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss