Economists have reacted positively to the White House’s decision to withdraw the nomination of EJ Antoni as head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the agency responsible for reporting important economic data. Antoni, the chief economist at the conservative Heritage Foundation, was nominated by President Donald Trump in August following the dismissal of Erika McEntarfer. McEntarfer was let go after the bureau released revised job growth data that indicated weaker-than-expected employment figures over the summer.
Antoni’s nomination elicited widespread concern from both liberal and conservative economists who viewed him as too partisan for the role. Prior to his nomination, Antoni had been a vocal critic of the BLS and had suggested, without evidence, that the agency’s data reporting might be biased. Stan Veuger from the American Enterprise Institute described the withdrawal of Antoni’s nomination as “good news,” citing concerns about his qualifications and perceived partisanship.
The reasoning behind the withdrawal has not been specified by the White House. Antoni’s confirmation would have required Senate approval, and reports indicated that some Republican senators, including Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, were unwilling to meet with him, raising doubts about the viability of his nomination.
Economist Jason Furman noted that the Senate had seemingly expressed its stance against Antoni’s potential confirmation and voiced hope that future nominees would meet higher qualifications. The White House continues to support Antoni, describing him as a “brilliant patriot” and asserting its commitment to reforming the BLS, which has faced scrutiny regarding public trust in its data.
Economists emphasize the importance of the BLS operating in a nonpartisan manner to maintain its credibility, as its data is critical for economic policy and decision-making. Concerns over the agency’s integrity were echoed by various experts, who warned that partisan influences could undermine its role in providing reliable economic information.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/01/trump-administration-withdraws-ej-antoni-bureau-of-labor-statistics