White House Pulls Nomination for Key Economic Position
The Trump administration has withdrawn the nomination of E.J. Antoni to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics, according to sources familiar with the decision. The White House formally submitted paperwork to the Senate on Tuesday to withdraw Antoni’s nomination, though officials have not publicly disclosed the reasons behind the move.
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Background of the Controversial Nomination
President Trump announced Antoni’s nomination in August as part of an effort to exert greater control over the federal agency responsible for producing critical economic data. The Bureau of Labor Statistics generates the monthly jobs report and consumer price index, which serves as the primary measure of inflation. Antoni, who serves as chief economist at The Heritage Foundation, had been a vocal critic of the BLS methodology and reporting.
Concerns About Credibility and Qualifications
Many economists expressed serious concerns about Antoni’s nomination, citing what they viewed as overt partisanship and questionable economic analysis. Critics pointed to what they characterized as basic misreads on recessions, import prices, and other economic measures that raised doubts about his suitability to lead the nonpartisan statistical agency.
Kyle Pomerleau, a tax expert at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, commented after the initial nomination that while there are many competent conservative economists who could fill the position, Antoni was not among them.
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Additional Controversies Surrounding Nominee
Further questions emerged about Antoni’s background and judgment. NBC News reported that Antoni was present outside the U.S. Capitol during the January 6, 2021, insurrection. Additionally, observers noted that wall art visible behind Antoni during television interviews depicted the German battleship Bismarck, which was used by Nazi forces during World War II.
Financial disclosures revealed that Antoni earned more than $495,000 from his position at The Heritage Foundation, supplemented by additional income from speaking engagements and consulting work.
Recent Context of BLS Leadership Changes
The nomination withdrawal comes after President Trump fired Erika McEntarfer as BLS commissioner on August 1, following a July jobs report that showed a significant hiring slowdown. The administration has maintained it wants accurate economic figures after multiple downward revisions to jobs reports, though Trump has simultaneously claimed on social media that the numbers were politically manipulated against him.
Other Withdrawn Nominations
In a separate action on Tuesday, the White House also withdrew the nomination of Brian Quintenz to join the Commodity Futures Trading Commission as chairman. A White House official described Quintenz as a trusted ally and indicated a new nominee would be announced soon.
The Heritage Foundation issued a statement defending Antoni, calling him “one of the sharpest economic minds in the country” and asserting he was the right person for the BLS position. However, the statement confirmed Antoni would remain at the conservative think tank rather than taking a government position.
Initial reporting on this development was covered by multiple news outlets, with comprehensive details available from sources that first broke the story.
