...
By Adeola Adeosun and Hollie Silverman
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
President Donald Trump has nominated E.J. Antoni to become the new commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), according to Trump's post to Truth Social on Monday night.
Newsweek reached out to Antoni via online form for comment.
Who Is E.J. Antoni?
Antoni serves as chief economist and Richard Aster fellow at The Heritage Foundation's Grover M. Hermann Center for the Federal Budget.
Read More on News
He holds master's and doctoral degrees in economics and has previously worked as an economist at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. He regularly contributes to major news outlets including Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg and CNBC, also serving as in-house economist for talk radio's nationally syndicated VINCE Show.
The Heritage Foundation was the primary architect behind Project 2025, a comprehensive conservative blueprint for Republican presidential administrations. Launched in 2022, the initiative includes a 900-page policy agenda proposing sweeping federal agency reforms, rollbacks of progressive policies and expansion of executive power through civil service restructuring.
Critics have characterized the political plan as a radical shift toward centralized, ideologically driven governance that threatens civil liberties and democratic norms. Project 2025 has widely been seen as the strategy for Trump's second term, despite his campaign publicly distancing itself from the initiative.
Antoni also serves as senior fellow at Unleash Prosperity and frequently testifies before Congress and state legislatures on economic issues.
What To Know
The nomination follows Trump's dismissal of former President Joe Biden-appointed BLS Commissioner Dr. Erika McEntarfer last week after the president alleged that recent jobs report numbers were "manipulated for political purposes."
U.S. employers added 73,000 jobs in July, far lower than even the meager expectations. In a survey by Bloomberg before the report's release, forecasters had expected the nation to add around 109,000 jobs for the month.
Hiring figures for May and June were also down sharply from projections. A combined total of 258,000 fewer jobs were added over the last three months compared to previous reports. The unemployment rate also rose slightly, to 4.2 percent from 4.1 percent in June.
"I was just informed that our Country's 'Jobs Numbers' are being produced by a Biden Appointee, Dr. Erika McEntarfer, the Commissioner of Labor Statistics, who faked the Jobs Numbers before the Election to try and boost Kamala's chances of Victory," Trump posted to Truth Social on August 1 after the report's release. "This is the same Bureau of Labor Statistics that overstated the Jobs Growth in March 2024 by approximately 818,000 and, then again, right before the 2024 Presidential Election, in August and September, by 112,000. These were Records — No one can be that wrong? We need accurate Jobs Numbers."
He added: "I have directed my Team to fire this Biden Political Appointee, IMMEDIATELY. She will be replaced with someone much more competent and qualified. Important numbers like this must be fair and accurate, they can't be manipulated for political purposes."
What People Are Saying
Trump, on Truth Social: "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. Our Economy is booming, and E.J. will ensure that the Numbers released are HONEST and ACCURATE. I know E.J. Antoni will do an incredible job in this new role. Congratulations E.J.!"
Founder of Tolou Capital Management Spencer Hakimian said on X, formerly Twitter: "TRUMP TAPS E. J. ANTONI TO LEAD BLS AFTER FIRING PREDECESSOR. Lmao get ready for a +27 million job month in 2 weeks."
University of Michigan Economics Professor Justin Wolfers said on X: "Trump's nominee for BLS commissioner, EJ Antoni, is disastrously terrible. He's a 1200%, 1300% maybe 1400% in-the-tank Trumper, with few credentials beyond a long history of misrepresenting or misunderstanding basic economic statistics. He has demonstrated no commitment to truth.
"If you like how Argentina has produced economic statistics, you'll love this guy."
Jessica Riedl, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, said on X: "I've never met EJ Antoni because he is not seen in many DC policy circles. However, the articles and tweets I've seen him publish are probably the most error-filled of any think tank economist right now. I hope we see better at BLS."
DOGE AI on X posted: "Nominating E.J. Antoni to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics exposes the rot in federal data agencies. The previous commissioner oversaw a 15% reduction in data collection under Biden-era policies, gutting transparency while bureaucrats hid behind "nonpartisan" labels."
...
What Happens Next?
Antoni's nomination will require Senate confirmation before he can assume the BLS commissioner's role.
Update 8/11/25, 8:32 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines