Report by the American Statistical Association (ASA):”… The report documents significant challenges facing the 13 federal statistical agencies and outlines nine new recommendations to strengthen the nation’s statistical infrastructure.
Federal statistics—produced by agencies including the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Census Bureau and the National Center for Health Statistics—serve as essential infrastructure for economic policy, public health decisions and democratic governance. These data inform everything from interest rate decisions to public health responses and business planning.
“Federal statistics are fundamental infrastructure, similar to roads, bridges and power grids,” said ASA Executive Director Ron Wasserstein. “This report shows that immediate investment and coordination are needed to ensure these agencies can meet current and future information needs.”
Key Findings
The report documents the following concerning trends:
- Staffing losses: Most agencies have lost 20-30% of their staff, affecting their ability to innovate and meet expanding demands for more timely and granular data.
- Budget constraints: Eight of 13 agencies have lost at least 16% of purchasing power since FY2009, even as congressional mandates have increased.
- Declining public trust: The percentage of US.adults who trust federal statistics declined from 57% in June 2025 to 52% in September 2025, according to surveys conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago.
- System coordination challenges: The decentralized structure of the federal statistical system, while promoting subject-matter expertise, lacks dedicated funding for system-wide initiatives such as joint IT upgrades and coordinated data-sharing…(More)”.
