Story perspectives

Trump Fires BLS Chief, Nominates Controversial E.J. Antoni

9/7/2025

Summary

Story summary

President Trump dismissed the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) following a disappointing jobs report and nominated E.J. Antoni as her successor.
Economists express concerns about the reliability of future job data due to this decision.
Deputy Commissioner William J. Wiatrowski currently leads the BLS, known for his commitment to unbiased statistics.
Antoni faces criticism over his qualifications and controversial statements, including conspiracy theories.
Senator Patty Murray condemned Antoni, urging a reconsideration of his nomination; the Senate hearing is unscheduled.

History

Historical Context

The United States experienced a severe economic downturn in 1980, with unemployment peaking at 10.8%. This crisis led to the establishment of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to provide reliable job data. Recent political dismissals, including the BLS head, echo past interferences that threaten public trust in economic reporting and could further politicize labor statistics under E.J. Antoni's potential nomination.

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Story summary

President Trump dismissed the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) following a disappointing jobs report and nominated E.J. Antoni as her successor.
Economists express concerns about the reliability of future job data due to this decision.
Deputy Commissioner William J. Wiatrowski currently leads the BLS, known for his commitment to unbiased statistics.
Antoni faces criticism over his qualifications and controversial statements, including conspiracy theories.
Senator Patty Murray condemned Antoni, urging a reconsideration of his nomination; the Senate hearing is unscheduled.

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