URGENT UPDATE: E.J. Antoni, nominated to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), has seen his nomination abruptly withdrawn by the White House after backlash over his past social media activity. This decision, confirmed just hours ago, follows a wave of criticism from both sides of the political aisle, marking a significant shift in Trump’s personnel choices.
Antoni, a 37-year-old economist from the Heritage Foundation, was initially announced as Trump’s pick in August 2023. However, as revealed by Politico, his nomination was officially rescinded on Tuesday after disturbing revelations about his past online behavior came to light, leading to widespread condemnation.
In a lengthy post on X (formerly Twitter) today, Antoni expressed disappointment but did not directly address the specific criticisms that led to his withdrawal. He stated, “Americans voted to reform the failed status quo of the D.C. Swamp,” suggesting that some elected officials lacked the courage to support his vision for change.
The controversy surrounding Antoni intensified after reports surfaced detailing his history of offensive posts, including derogatory remarks about Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. His posts also included false accusations against Rep. Ilhan Omar, stirring further outrage. These revelations raised significant concerns about his fitness for the role overseeing critical economic data.
“Dr. E.J. Antoni is a brilliant economist and an American patriot,” a White House official told CNN, emphasizing the administration’s commitment to addressing issues within the BLS. “President Trump is committed to fixing the longstanding failures at the BLS that have undermined the public’s trust in critical economic data.”
Antoni’s nomination was part of a broader effort by Trump to reshape the BLS after alleging that the agency had “rigged” job report figures in July. In his previous comments, Antoni had proposed reducing the frequency of job reports, opting instead for more accurate quarterly data. This approach sparked further debate over the agency’s transparency and accountability.
The White House has stated that a new nominee for the BLS will be announced shortly, as officials continue to navigate the political fallout from this withdrawal. While Antoni has thanked Trump and others who supported his nomination, he has made it clear that he will continue to advocate for necessary reforms from his position at the Heritage Foundation.
As this story develops, the implications for labor statistics and economic reporting in the U.S. remain significant, with many questioning how this leadership change will affect public trust in economic data moving forward.
Stay tuned for more updates on this breaking news as we continue to monitor the situation closely.
