Trump picks E.J. Antoni as new Bureau of Labor Statistics head after firing old commissioner amid weak jobs report

President Trump has selected E.J. Antoni as his nominee to head the Bureau of Labor Statistics, following the dismissal of the previous commissioner for a disappointing jobs report. Antoni, a fellow at the conservative Heritage Foundation and a holder of a doctorate in economics, has been a vocal supporter of President Trump’s economic policies, including his tariff strategy. However, he has also criticized the BLS for low response rates and questioned the agency’s methodology, even referring to their health insurance figures as “phoney baloney.”

In a post on Truth Social, President Trump announced Antoni’s nomination, stating that he will ensure that the data released by the BLS is honest and accurate. Antoni’s nomination will need to be confirmed by the Senate, as the agency is currently being led by acting Commissioner William Watrowski.

The decision to fire the former commissioner, Erika McEntarfer, came after the release of a jobs report that showed a significant slowdown in hiring, along with downward revisions to previous months’ numbers. President Trump accused McEntarfer of manipulating the jobs numbers before the election to favor Vice President Kamala Harris, although no evidence was provided to support this claim.

In the wake of McEntarfer’s firing, influential figures like former Trump strategist Steve Bannon backed Antoni to take over the BLS. Bannon described McEntarfer as incompetent and expressed support for Antoni’s appointment.

Critics of the President’s decision to fire McEntarfer have raised concerns about the move undermining the independence and integrity of the federal statistical system. A group of former BLS leaders called on Congress to investigate the firing, stating that it undermines the valuable work of BLS staff.

The latest jobs report, released in October 2024, showed a lower-than-expected number of jobs created, leading to scrutiny and criticism from the President and his administration. Despite the controversy surrounding the BLS, Antoni’s nomination is expected to bring a fresh perspective to the agency and restore trust in the accuracy of the data it provides.