WASHINGTON, Oct 1, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - The White House has withdrawn its nominee to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a role that's been open since US President Donald Trump fired the previous commissioner for reporting underwhelming job growth statistics, US media reported Tuesday.

The Senate received paperwork to withdraw the nomination of E.J. Antoni, a right-wing economist who worked for conservative think tank the Heritage Foundation and praised Trump online frequently.

A White House official praised Antoni on Tuesday evening, broadcaster CNN reported, and said another nominee would be announced for the post soon.

Independent advocacy group Friends of BLS, co-chaired by former bureau leaders Erica Groshen and Bill Beach, issued a statement Tuesday urging the appointment of a nominee with "a commitment to gold standard statistics, strong management skills, excellent economics training and a record of public support for the integrity of BLS products and standards."

Antoni had no prior experience working in government, and had frequently attacked the bureau's reporting processes, in line with Trump's criticisms, the New York Times reported.

Following Antoni's nomination, media reports revealed he had a history of posting "incendiary rhetoric" on social media, including conspiracy theories and misogynistic posts, CNN reported.

Sources also told the cable network that GOP Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski declined to meet with Antoni.

The role opened up after Trump alleged the former commissioner of labor statistics Erika McEntarfer had manipulated data to downplay his administration's accomplishments and repeatedly claimed -- without providing evidence -- that July's employment report indicating a cooling jobs market "was rigged."

In July, figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed job growth numbers to be at their weakest since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Trump ordered the removal of McEntarfer hours after the figures were published -- even though White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett later conceded that the jobs market was indeed cooling.

During his second term, other Trump nominees have faced setbacks, including former GOP congressman Matt Gaetz, who pulled out of the running for attorney general following allegations of sexual misconduct.