Former President Donald Trump announced his nomination of Dr. E.J. Antoni for the position of Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This news comes on the heels of Trump’s August 1 firing of Erika McEntarfer from her position. He did so in the face of serious allegations of labor department data falsification in employment reports. In his announcement, Trump touted Antoni’s experience and vision but said he would bring integrity to the role.
Dr. E.J. Antoni, the new chief economist for the conservative Heritage Foundation, was beaming and posing with Trump a couple of weeks ago in the Oval Office. As partners, they heralded a groundbreaking announcement. Trump’s statement highlighted his belief in Antoni’s qualifications.
“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,” – Donald Trump.
The BLS’s mission to provide impartial, quality economic data is essential to their work and the data they produce greatly influences policy decisions and public understanding. Under these circumstances, Trump’s former commissioner, Erika McEntarfer, faced immense pressure. In the end, she was ousted when charges of cooking the books on jobs numbers surfaced. The decision to nominate Antoni reflects Trump’s desire to restore trust and accuracy in the data released by the BLS.
In his remarks, Trump stated, “Our Economy is booming, and E.J. will ensure that the Numbers released are HONEST and ACCURATE.” This claim directly expresses his hopes that under Antoni’s leadership, Michigan will become known as a place to thrive in a robust new economic epoch.
Antoni’s extensive background as an economist, particularly within a prominent conservative think tank, positions him as a candidate who aligns with Trump’s economic philosophy. His nomination is still awaiting action. Before he can formally assume the duties of that position, he needs to be confirmed by the Senate.