Larson Opposes Trump Nominee Who Called to Shut Down Social Security

East Hartford, CT – Today, House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee Ranking Member John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement opposing EJ Antoni’s nomination for Commissioner of Labor Statistics. Antoni is a Project 2025 contributor who has called for shutting down Social Security. 

“President Trump fired the Commissioner of Labor Statistics to cover up a weak jobs report – and now he is replacing her with a Project 2025 lackey who wants to shut down Social Security,” said Larson. “EJ Antoni agrees with Elon Musk that Social Security is a Ponzi scheme and said that middle class seniors would be better off if it was eliminated. Doctored jobs numbers to feed Trump’s ego might seem like a distraction, but Bureau of Labor Statistics data is what determines the annual cost of living adjustment for Social Security benefits. It should alarm everyone when a yes-man determined to end Social Security is installed in this position. I call on every Senate Republican to stand with Democrats and reject this extreme nominee – before our seniors are denied the benefits they earned through a lifetime of hard work.” 

When Commissioner of Labor Statistics Erika McEntarfer was fired after a weak jobs report, Ranking Member Larson warned that the President’s data meddling could mean a smaller COLA for Social Security next year. EJ Antoni, President Trump’s nominee to replace her, has called Social Security a Ponzi scheme, and suggested it should be shut down. Antoni is a top economist at the Heritage Foundation, a MAGA think tank, and contributed to the Project 2025 playbook, which included a plan to raise the retirement age to 70.