U.S. Intelligence Briefly Curtailed Information Sharing With Israel Amid Gaza War Concerns 
U.S. Lifts Sanctions on Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Amid Shift in Brazil Relations 
Ukraine’s NATO Concession Unlikely to Shift Peace Talks, Experts Say 
Global Leaders Condemn Deadly Antisemitic Shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach During Hanukkah 
Special Prosecutor Alleges Yoon Suk Yeol Sought North Korea Provocation to Justify Martial Law 
Israeli Airstrike in Gaza Targets Senior Hamas Commander Amid Ceasefire Tensions 
Korea Zinc Plans $6.78 Billion U.S. Smelter Investment With Government Partnership 
Belarus Pledges to Halt Smuggling Balloons Into Lithuania 
Thailand Vows Continued Military Action Amid Cambodia Border Clash Despite Trump Ceasefire Claim 
Tunisia Protests Grow as Opposition Unites Against President Kais Saied’s Rule 
Thousands Protest in Brazil Against Efforts to Reduce Jair Bolsonaro’s Prison Sentence 
Colombia’s Clan del Golfo Peace Talks Signal Mandatory Prison Sentences for Top Leaders 
Russian Drone Attack Hits Turkish Cargo Ship Carrying Sunflower Oil to Egypt, Ukraine Says 
U.S. Special Forces Intercept Ship Carrying Military Components Bound for Iran 
Judge Orders Return of Seized Evidence in Comey-Related Case, DOJ May Seek New Warrant 
Belarus Frees 123 Political Prisoners in U.S.-Brokered Deal Over Sanctions 
Trump Signals Two Final Candidates for Fed Chair, Calls for Presidential Input on Interest Rates 
The Trump administration has officially withdrawn its nomination of conservative economist E.J. Antoni to lead the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the White House confirmed Tuesday. Antoni, currently chief economist at the Heritage Foundation, was tapped last month after President Donald Trump abruptly fired Erika McEntarfer, accusing her—without evidence—of manipulating jobs data.
The BLS, part of the Department of Labor, produces closely watched economic reports, including monthly jobs and inflation data that influence global markets, policymakers, and investors. Trump’s choice of Antoni, a vocal critic of the agency, raised concerns among economists about the reliability of government statistics. Critics argued his appointment could undermine confidence in official labor data and increase reliance on private-sector alternatives.
Antoni’s nomination quickly faced hurdles in the Senate. The committee overseeing the Labor Department never scheduled a hearing, and several Republican senators—including Lisa Murkowski—voiced concerns. According to insiders, hesitation among GOP lawmakers contributed to the administration’s decision to pull the nomination. CNN was the first to report the withdrawal.
The timing of this decision adds to economic uncertainty as the U.S. edges toward a potential government shutdown. A failed Senate vote on extending funding could delay the release of September’s crucial jobs report, originally set for Friday.
Economists and policy advocates previously warned that politicizing the BLS could damage its independence. Joe Brusuelas of RSM US predicted a rise in demand for private data providers if Antoni were confirmed, while Alex Jacquez of the Groundwork Collaborative described the nomination as “a clear assault on independent analysis.”
Despite the withdrawal, the White House maintains that Antoni is a “brilliant economist and an American patriot.” Officials promised a new nominee will be announced soon, signaling that the administration still intends to shake up the leadership of one of the government’s most important statistical agencies.
