The White House has withdrawn Dr. EJ Antoni’s nomination to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics, marking a significant setback for conservative efforts to reshape the agency’s data practices. The decision came after Antoni failed to secure sufficient Senate support for confirmation, according to Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who cited the lack of votes as the primary reason.

Antoni, a conservative economist and contributor to Project 2025, had been selected by President Donald Trump in August to replace Erika McEntarfer, the previous BLS commissioner. Trump had criticized McEntarfer’s leadership following a controversial July jobs report that showed weak job growth and significant revisions to prior data. The president claimed the report was manipulated to harm his re-election prospects, though no evidence supported the allegations.

Antoni’s nomination faced immediate scrutiny due to his history of challenging BLS methodologies and his role as a vocal critic of the agency’s data quality. He also drew criticism for describing himself as a “bystander” during the January 6 Capitol insurrection. Additionally, his proposal to suspend monthly job reports in favor of quarterly releases until accuracy improved sparked concerns among economists and market analysts.

Republican lawmakers Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins, both considered moderate voices, did not engage with Antoni during his nomination process, contributing to his failure to gain Senate backing. The White House has yet to announce a replacement for the position, leaving the BLS leadership vacancy unresolved.