Operating seamlessly, safely stewarding sensitive data resources

"Our Nation’s future, and the ability to serve our citizens equitably and effectively, requires high quality, useful, and objective information for decision-making across the public and private sectors. The Federal statistical system is key to generating this trusted information."
– Dr. Karin Orvis, Chief Statistician of the United States

• On March 28, 2024, OMB published a set of long-awaited updates to Statistical Policy Directive No. 15 (Directive No. 15): Standards for Maintaining, Collecting, and Presenting Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity. Thanks to the hard work of staff across dozens of Federal agencies and input from thousands of members of the public, these updated standards will help create more useful, accurate, and up to date Federal data on race and ethnicity. They will enhance our ability to compare information and data across Federal agencies, and also to understand how well Federal programs serve a diverse America. You can read the updated Directive No. 15 on the Federal Register as well as on spd15revision.gov.
• On March 11, 2024, OMB published Leveraging Federal Statistics to Strengthen Evidence-Based Decision-Making in the Analytical Perspectives volume. This report discusses efforts to advance toward a more seamless Federal statistical system with enhanced statistical capacity and infrastructure, and highlights recent accomplishments within the Federal statistical system. Accompanying the chapter is Statistical Officials Highlights and Achievements, a report on the achievements of Statistical Officials in 2023.

The Federal statistical system is guided by specific laws, policies, and guidance. These are foundational for the key responsibilities of the Office of the Chief Statistician of the United States; statistical agencies, units, and programs; Statistical Officials; and agencies across the Federal Government.

The Federal statistical system collaborates on development of periodic and one-time products to promote understanding of its initiatives, priorities, budgets, and activities.

For questions about or assistance with completing a federal survey, connect with the federal agency conducting or sponsoring the survey. Click here to learn about the statistical agencies. Approved federal surveys are issued an official OMB control number, which must be visible on survey forms, or available by asking the interviewer.

Federal law requires agencies to have public inventories of data sets. Many are also listed on the federal government’s data catalog. To discover available data sets and apply for access to restricted and confidential data for evidence building, visit the Federal statistical system’s Standard Application Process and its growing data catalog.