In a surprising turn of events, former US President Donald Trump has retracted his nomination of conservative economist EJ Antoni to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This decision follows Trump’s abrupt dismissal of former BLS commissioner Erika McEntarfer in August, which occurred mid-term after a disappointing jobs report sparked concerns about the US economy. While Antoni’s nomination was lauded by conservative circles, it faced criticism from independent economists who questioned his qualifications and warned of potential damage to the BLS’s credibility. The White House has not provided a specific reason for the withdrawal but confirmed that Trump intends to propose a new candidate soon. A White House official described Antoni as a ‘brilliant economist and American patriot’ who will continue contributing to the nation’s economic discourse. Trump has long criticized the BLS, accusing it of manipulating employment data to undermine his administration. The August jobs report, which revealed only 73,000 new jobs—far below the projected 109,000—further fueled his discontent. Antoni, an economist at the Heritage Foundation, has been a vocal critic of the BLS, labeling its data as ‘phoney baloney.’ Heritage Foundation president Kevin Roberts defended Antoni, calling him ‘one of the sharpest economic minds in the country’ and emphasizing the need for BLS reform. The US Senate, currently controlled by Republicans, will be responsible for confirming the next nominee.