Sep 8
Trump’s Pick for Bureau of Labor Statistics Faces Backlash Over Homophobic Tweets
READ TIME: 2 MIN.
President Donald Trump announced the nomination of E.J. Antoni, a conservative economist and chief economist at the Heritage Foundation, to serve as commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) after firing the previous commissioner, Erika McEntarfer, following a disappointing July jobs report. Antoni’s nomination requires Senate confirmation and has drawn attention due to his affiliations and policy positions, including contributions to the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, which outlines a far-right agenda for government overhaul.
Trump justified the nomination by saying, “Our Economy is booming, and E.J. will ensure that the Numbers released are HONEST and ACCURATE,” but critics have questioned the abrupt firing of McEntarfer and the politicization of economic data.
CNN reported Antoni "operated a since-deleted Twitter account that featured sexually degrading attacks on Kamala Harris, derogatory remarks about gay people, conspiracy theories, and crude insults aimed at critics of President Donald Trump."
As commissioner of the BLS, Antoni would oversee the collection and publication of key economic data, including employment statistics for marginalized communities. Advocates worry that Antoni’s documented hostility toward LGBTQ+ people could undermine efforts to accurately track employment trends among LGBTQ+ Americans and jeopardize inclusive policymaking.
The controversy comes amid broader concerns about the politicization of federal agencies and the impact of far-right ideology on government appointments. Antoni’s contributions to Project 2025—a conservative blueprint advocating for sweeping changes to federal institutions—include proposals to roll back non-discrimination protections and limit data collection about marginalized groups.
Antoni’s nomination is expected to come before the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, where lawmakers have indicated they will scrutinize his qualifications, policy positions, and online behavior. His lack of government experience and has some Democrats and some moderate Republicans concerned, as does his reported role as a "bystander" at the January 6 Capitol riot.
If confirmed, Antoni would take charge of an agency central to the nation’s economic decision-making, with the power to influence how labor trends are tracked and reported. LGBTQ+ organizations have pledged to monitor the confirmation process closely and advocate for policies that protect the interests of LGBTQ+ workers and families.
