The White House is withdrawing the nomination of E.J. Antoni to head the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a White House Official confirmed to CBS News.

The official did not provide a reason for the withdrawal, but said Antoni was a "brilliant economist" and that President Trump would announce a new nominee in the near future.

CNN was first to report the nomination had been withdrawn.

Antoni was nominated for the role by Mr. Trump in August, after the president fired former BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer earlier in the month following a weaker-than-expected jobs report, which he blamed her for.

Mr. Trump at the time said the report, which showed employers added 73,000 jobs in July, which fell below predictions, as "a shock," and said a sizeable revision showing 258,000 fewer jobs

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