Use this form to alert the American Statistical Association-George Mason University (ASA-GMU) Project on the Health of the Principal Statistical Agencies about developments that may impair federal statistical programs’ capacity to produce relevant, timely, objective, and accurate statistics for the public good.
Specifically, we are looking for information on:
- Discontinuance of surveys, other data collection programs, published estimates, and associated documentation
- Disappearance of datasets, variables, and associated documentation
- Discontinuance of statistical agency advisory committees
- Conversion of career statistical agency staff to Schedule Policy/Career (Schedule F)
- Unfilled senior vacancies
- Added political appointees
- Budget and staff cuts
- Cutting of/reduction contracts
- Other developments that may undercut statistical agencies’ ability to remain objective and to maintain public trust
- General news, for context
- News on specific events
Please be specific about your sources (no names, but an indication as to whether a source is first-hand, second-hand, etc.). The ASA-GMU project will post credible, relevant information on its monitor webpage; we will not identify you so please do not include personally identifiable information in your submission.
Only the ASA-GMU project team will have access to the information shared through this form or via email to 2869567f.amstat.org@amer.teams.ms.
The ASA-GMU project is to independently assess the value of federal statistics and proactively identify challenges and opportunities for statistical agencies. Our findings will be shared through reports and outreach efforts to Congress, OMB, and other key stakeholders.
Our inaugural report, The Nation’s Data at Risk: Meeting American's Information Needs for the 21st Century, was released in July 2024. We plan a second report in summer 2025. Given the fast pace of developments affecting federal statistics, we have decided to conduct near real-time monitoring for at least the next 6 months. We are supported by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, and the California Community Foundation.
Thank you for your concern for federal statistics and statistical agencies.