Scheduled Senate hearing for Trump's nominee for Bureau of Labor Statistics head

The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) has scheduled a hearing for the nomination of Dr. EJ Antoni as Director of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for October 2, 2025. This appointment comes after President Donald Trump nominated Antoni following the firing of the former commissioner, Erika McEntarfer.

Antoni, who earned his Ph.D. in economics from Northern Illinois University and serves as chief economist at the conservative Heritage Foundation, requires a simple majority vote from the committee to be advanced to the full Senate for a vote. However, his nomination has drawn criticism from both left- and right-leaning economists, as well as concerns about his past actions and statements.

One of the main critics of Antoni's nomination is Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, who has asserted that Trump nominated him to "undermine the Bureau of Labor Statistics." Schumer believes the BLS should report factual data, not serve as a propaganda shop, and emphasized the importance of keeping economic data honest, transparent, and independent.

President Trump, in response, asserted, without evidence, that the numbers had been manipulated to make him look bad. This claim has been met with scepticism by many, including Senator Collins, who has defended the BLS data revisions, asserting there is no evidence of political manipulation.

Antoni's nomination has also been marred by allegations of inappropriate behaviour. A CNN report alleges that Antoni ran a social media account with sexually degrading comments, conspiracy theories, and derogatory comments aimed toward certain groups. Additionally, NBC News reported that video footage showed Antoni was among the crowd outside the US Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Antoni has also expressed controversial views, such as a desire to eliminate the Federal Reserve, referring to it as "unconstitutional." This stance, if implemented, could have significant implications for the U.S. economy.

The hearing for Antoni's confirmation is undecided, according to a spokesperson for the committee. During the nomination hearing, Antoni is likely to face questions from Democrats regarding his qualifications for the position, as well as his past actions and statements. The Senate committee includes moderate Republicans Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, who have a history of voting against some Trump nominees.

As the hearing approaches, the controversy surrounding Antoni's nomination continues to grow, with many questioning whether his appointment would be in the best interest of the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the American people.

Scheduled Senate hearing for Trump's nominee for Bureau of Labor Statistics head