Trump Withdraws EJ Antoni's Nomination to Lead US Bureau of Labor Statistics

President Donald Trump has withdrawn the nomination of EJ Antoni to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) following reports of inflammatory tweets from a now-deleted social media account that included misogynistic, derogatory, and conspiracy-laden comments. Antoni, chief economist at the Heritage Foundation and a vocal critic of the BLS, was initially nominated after Trump fired former BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer over dissatisfaction with jobs data. The withdrawal surprised some but followed public concern from senators and economists about Antoni's suitability and the independence of the BLS under his leadership. Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts praised Antoni as a sharp economic mind and affirmed his continued role at the think tank, emphasizing the need for reform at BLS. The White House has not provided a detailed reason for the withdrawal but indicated that a new nominee will be announced soon. Antoni has not publicly commented on the decision, and the nomination process for the BLS leadership remains unsettled.