US President Donald Trump has withdrawn EJ Antoni’s nomination to head the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This decision arrives as concern deepens in the US regarding the health of the economy. Antoni, a conservative economist affiliated with the Heritage Foundation, had been positioned to step into the role following the abrupt dismissal of former BLS commissioner Erika McEntarfer in August.
EJ Antoni, who has gained notoriety for his conservative views, used to work at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, another right-wing think tank. Trump released McEntarfer a few months before his nomination. This decision came on the heels of a sucky jobs report indicating net new jobs for July came in just 73,000—far short of the 109,000 expected. This report sounded a clarion call as to the poor state of our nation’s economy.
Trump’s administration has faced scrutiny regarding its economic policies, particularly following McEntarfer’s firing. The president has consistently downplayed concerns about economic performance, arguing that tariffs imposed on global trading partners would ultimately benefit US jobs and manufacturers.
Antoni’s nomination received support from conservative circles. As one White House official said, he’s “an absolute rockstar.” They said, “Dr. EJ Antoni is a brilliant economist and an American patriot who will now do super-massive-honking-great work for our country.” Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation, was very enthusiastic about Antoni. He went on to praise him as “one of the sharpest economic minds in the country.”
Not all reactions were positive. Independent economists were critical of Antoni’s ability to perform the role. They are raising doubts about his ability to lead an agency that is a cornerstone of protecting the integrity of employment data that drives important economic policy decisions.
Given these haphazard receptions and the still-precarious economic climate, Trump ultimately moved to rescind Antoni’s nomination. The president has long held a public grudge against the BLS. Ultimately, he desires a leadership team that is more congruent with his administration’s economic fairy tale.
Donald Trump has previously claimed that “Our Economy is booming, and E.J. will ensure that the Numbers released are HONEST and ACCURATE.” However, in spite of this claim, the administration’s recent disappointing jobs report added to a growing climate of skepticism over the administration’s economic plan.