Montco Native Is President Trump's Controversial Pick To Lead Key Federal Agency

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA — President Trump's controversial nominee to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics, EJ Antoni, is a Montgomery County native with numerous ties to the local area.

Antoni, an economist with the far-right Heritage Foundation and an architect of the famed Project 2025, went to Lansdale Catholic High School before earning his undergraduate degree from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, formerly in Wynnewood and now based in Ambler.

Antoni still must be approved by the U.S. Senate before taking over the post heading the nation's employment data. His nomination is fraught due to his stated positions that have split some on the right, and his relative inexperience. While the last head of the BLS, Erika McEntarfer, had years of experience in the Census Bureau and the White House, the 37-year-old Antoni has only been working with a non-governmental agency for a comparatively short time.

Additional questions also arose after the White House confirmed that Antoni was in the crowd at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, the Guardian reports, though a spokesperson for the Trump administration said that it is "wrong and defamatory" to suggest Antoni had done anything illegal.

Trump called Antoni, who has a Ph.D in economics from Northern Illinois University, a "highly respected economist" in an announcement on his TruthSocial platform.

"Our Economy is booming, and E.J. will ensure that the Numbers released are HONEST and ACCURATE," Trump wrote. "I know E.J. Antoni will do an incredible job in this new role. Congratulations E.J.!"

Antoni had drawn increased public attention in recent months for criticizing the BLS and its methods. He's also been a vocal supporter of President Trump's keystone policies and economic initiatives, including the "big beautiful bill."

Trump had fired McEntarfer on Aug. 1 after the latest jobs report was released, claiming without evidence that she had rigged the employment data to appear worse than it really was.

The U.S. Senate is currently in recess, and an exact date for a confirmation hearing for Antoni has not yet been announced.