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https://www.npr.org/2025/10/01/nx-s1-5559284/trumps-controversial-nominee-drops-bid-to-head-vital-data-gathering-agency
President Trump's nominee to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics has withdrawn after widespread criticism that he was too partisan and inexperienced to hold such an important role in government.
A White House official confirmed the move, saying Trump would name a replacement for nominee E.J. Antoni "very soon."
The BLS produces some of the government's most closely-watched economic reports, including monthly updates on jobs and inflation. All of its reports are on hold for now until the government shutdown is resolved.
Trump had tapped Antoni to lead the bureau in August after abruptly firing the previous BLS commissioner, Erika McEntarfer, over a disappointing jobs report. The president claimed that the jobs numbers had been manipulated to embarrass him, although he offered no evidence to support that, and the claim was dismissed by independent observers.
President Trump's nominee to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics has withdrawn after widespread criticism that he was too partisan and inexperienced to hold such an important role in government.
A White House official confirmed the move, saying Trump would name a replacement for nominee E.J. Antoni "very soon."
The BLS produces some of the government's most closely-watched economic reports, including monthly updates on jobs and inflation. All of its reports are on hold for now until the government shutdown is resolved.
Trump had tapped Antoni to lead the bureau in August after abruptly firing the previous BLS commissioner, Erika McEntarfer, over a disappointing jobs report. The president claimed that the jobs numbers had been manipulated to embarrass him, although he offered no evidence to support that, and the claim was dismissed by independent observers.
