Federal Data Users

Want to help ensure that we can continue to trust federal statistics, like jobs and inflation? If so, voice your opinion about the potential impact of the Schedule Policy/Career Rule, a proposed change to federal employment policy. The rule could reclassify many senior statistical agency staffers to make it easier to fire them if a President wants to do so.  They'd become more like political appointees.

If you think this rule is a bad idea, go to this website (https://www.friendsofbls.org/updates/2025/4/24/is-schedule-policycareer-a-risk-for-federal-statistical-agencies).

Follow the instructions (with templates) for submitting a comment on the rule and writing to your elected representatives. It also has a policy brief from me with more info about the issue.

ANYONE can submit a comment. Quantity matters (really!), so share this widely with your friends and colleagues. The comment period is open through May 23, 2025, so don't delay.

Done! Submitted my comment and appreciated the Friends of BLS text as a starter.

OMB extended the deadline and is accepting comments through June 7, 2025, so if you haven't sent your representative an email about Schedule Policy/Career, you can still do so today! This change seeks to reclassify 50,000 senior federal employees, making it easier to remove them from their positions. 

Here's the link to an Email Template from the Friends of the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

https://www.friendsofbls.org/updates/2025/5/28/5pqfgnf3phyrqmert0suk2ktjnhrws