Hello fellow federal data supporters! We’ve been delighted with all the forum activity during the past month. As of today, we have close to 300 members!
Keep it coming. We recently learned that DOGE is pledging to go "one-by-one" through the Census Bureau's 102 surveys, so we expect more turmoil in the coming months.
Here are some highlights from community member posts in May:
- Survey Question Removals: Multiple federal surveys have removed questions about sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI), including the National Survey of Children's Health (variable ACE12), Justice Department surveys, and PRAMS questionnaires.
- NAEP Confidentiality Changes: The 2026 National Assessment of Educational Progress shifted from CIPSEA to ESRA confidentiality protections due to staffing changes at the Department of Education, introducing a "terrorism carve-out" that didn't exist under CIPSEA.
- Federal Workforce Concerns: There are ongoing worries about "brain drain" at the Census Bureau and proposed Schedule Policy/Career Rule changes that could make it easier to fire senior statistical agency staff, potentially compromising data integrity.
- Publication Delays: The Report on Indicators of School Crime and Safety expected in July 2025 was pulled from the official publication schedule, and the scope of NAEP has been reduced for the next 8 years. The Condition of Education report was both late and incomplete.
- Data Comparability Issues: Removal of questions creates breaks in data series and affects the ability to track Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and other longitudinal trends, with concerns that changes aren't being publicly announced.
- Regulatory Process Questions: Many data changes are being implemented without the standard Paperwork Reduction Act public comment process, raising questions about transparency and proper oversight.
- Professional Response Efforts: The community is promoting public comment opportunities, including lifting up efforts from organizations like Friends of BLS to respond to proposed changes to federal employment rules that could negatively affect the federal statistical system.
- Trade and Economic Data: New tools like the Economic Innovation Group's Trade Policy Dashboard are being developed to track federal statistical indicators related to policy goals.
- Concerns about the 2030 Census: Advocates are calling for the president to fully fund the Census Bureau's 2026 test, which plays a pivotal role in determining the techniques for the full 2030 Census by surveying residents of a select few areas.
- Federal Register Notices: Several data users posted links to Federal Register Notices focused on public data collection, including:
Responding to these notices is a great way to express your support for federal statistics.
Mark Mather and Beth Jarosz
PRB