ICYMI: Trump Nominates E.J. Antoni for BLS Commissioner

President Trump has nominated E.J. Antoni to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) after abruptly firing and baselessly accusing Commissioner Erika McEntarfer of deliberately reporting false numbers in the latest Employment Situation report (see previous COSSA coverage). Antoni comes from the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, where he served as a Chief Economist and contributed to Project 2025. He holds a master’s and PhD in economics from Northern Illinois University.

The Senate Health, Education, and Labor and Pensions Committee (HELP) is rumored to hold a confirmation hearing for Antoni sometime this month. While the role does require Senate confirmation, it’s unusual for the Senate to hold a hearing prior to the vote. The last time they held a hearing for BLS Commissioner was in 1993. The Friends of BLS coalition, of which COSSA is a member, urged Congress to extensively assess Antoni’s ability to lead the agency, citing the importance of having a Commissioner that can “restore public trust, defend the agency against political interference, and accelerate critical modernization efforts across all programs.”

Stay tuned for COSSA’s continued coverage of the Administration.