Trump nominates economist E.J. Antoni to lead Bureau of Labor Statistics
President Donald Trump said Monday he is nominating E.J. Antoni, an economist, as commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The move comes after Trump fired Erika McEntarfer as BLS commissioner earlier this month, claiming the agency released jobs numbers that were “rigged in order to make the Republicans, and ME, look bad.”
Under McEntarfer, the BLS revised the previously reported job numbers for May and June, subtracting a total of 258,000 jobs from what was originally reported. Although Trump accused McEntarfer of manipulating data, there’s no evidence she actually did.
Antoni’s background and public criticism of BLS
“I am pleased to announce that I am nominating Highly Respected Economist, Dr. E.J. Antoni, as the next Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics,” Trump wrote on Truth Social Monday. “Our Economy is booming, and E.J. will ensure that the Numbers released are HONEST and ACCURATE.”
Antoni currently works as the chief economist at the conservative think tank, Heritage Foundation, and helped to author Project 2025. In several instances, Antoni has been critical of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“There are better ways to collect, process, and disseminate data—that is the task for the next BLS commissioner,” Antoni wrote on X in August. “And only consistent delivery of accurate data in a timely manner will rebuild the trust that has been lost over the last several years.”
In November, Antoni posted “DOGE needs to take a chainsaw to the BLS…”
Mixed reactions to Antoni’s nomination
Justin Wolfers, a professor of public policy and economics at the University of Michigan, criticized Trump’s nominee, writing on X: “Trump’s nominee for BLS commissioner, EJ Antoni, is disastrously terrible. He’s a 1200%, 1300% maybe 1400% in-the-tank Trumper, with few credentials beyond a long history of misrepresenting or misunderstanding basic economic statistics. He has demonstrated no commitment to truth.”
Steve Bannon, a prominent former adviser to Donald Trump, publicly supported Antoni as the next leader of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Antoni cannot officially take over as commissioner of the BLS until he is confirmed by the U.S. Senate. In the meantime, William Wiatrowski is currently serving as the acting commissioner of the BLS.
Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
