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 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 Committee on Statistical Methodology (FCSM) is hosting the 2024 FCSM Research and Policy Conference, to be held October 22-24, 2024 . Abstracts are due April 8. Submission instructions and more information about the conference can be found at https://fcsmconf.org/.
• The Standard Application Process (SAP) portal completed its first year of full operation in December 2023! Visit the SAP website to read the SAP Governance Board’s 2023 Annual Report and learn about the accomplishments of Year 1, the planned improvements for 2024, and the long-term goals for the SAP.

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.