COPAFS
Advancing Excellence in Federal Statistics
- The Friends of BLS have released an explanation for the causes for the annual revisions of the BLS Jobs Numbers. www.friendsofbls.org/updates/2026...
- The Friends of BLS have released a statement on the nomination of Brett Matsumoto for BLS Commissioner which outlines criteria useful in evaluation of any nominee for this position. www.friendsofbls.org/updates/2026...
- Reposted by COPAFSFriends of BLS has 2 new statements 1. On @brettmatsumoto.bsky.social’s Nomination for @usbls.bsky.social Commissioner 2. Annual Revisions for BLS Jobs Numbers Expected To Be Downward: The Causes Explained Two former commishs, appointees of Pres. Obama & Trump, co-chair Friends of BLS. Detail ⬇️
- The Trump Administration has nominated Brett Matsumoto as the next BLS Commissioner. He has been a research economist at BLS since 2015 in the Division of Price and Index Number Research and recently served on the CEA.
- Reposted by COPAFSThank you to everyone who joined us for our webinar, The Day Federal Data Went Dark: A Year of Monitoring and Action. We are grateful to be in a community with so many amazing organizations. You can watch the recording to learn about more than a dozen efforts to monitor and safeguard federal data.
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- Reducing max contact attempts to 2, would have dramatically reduced response to data collection efforts at Census.
- Reposted by COPAFSNew statement from Friends of BLS: "Some controversy...erupted on Dec. 30 following release of a highly informative Q&A that addressed how [BLS] estimated the Nov. 2025 CPI. We..find no reason to see the hand of politics anywhere in the Bureau’s CPI work..." www.friendsofbls.org/updates/2025...
- Real GDP increased at an annual rate of 4.3 percent in the third quarter of 2025 (July, August, and September), according to the initial estimate released by BEA today. In the second quarter, real GDP increased 3.8 percent. www.bea.gov
- The @asa-scipol.bsky.social will release "The Nation's Data at Risk: 2025 Report" tomorrow, Dec 10 at 7AM EST. The report will be available at the project website (link in comments). ASA will also host a webinar on the report tomorrow at 10AM EST. amstat.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
- Reposted by COPAFSHard disagree. The official BLS jobs numbers are still the most reliable data we have, and it's not close. And there's no way the Administration has (yet) fiddled with its data. I promise to let you know at the first whiff of interference.
- The only reliable data we are going to get on this stuff now comes from the private sector. bsky.app/profile/atru...
- Reposted by COPAFSLooking forward to participating in this Congressional Briefing on U.S. birth rates with @econmsk.bsky.social & @prbdata.bsky.social's Jennifer Sciubba next week, sponsored by @popassocamerica.bsky.social. If you're in the DC area, join us! RSVP here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
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- There is still time to Register for the COPAFS Quarterly Meeting on Dec 5. We will begin the day at 9:30AM. www.eventbrite.com/e/copafs-qua...
- Revised Release Dates for BLS Data Products. www.bls.gov/bls/2025-lap...
- The 2026 Privacy and Public Policy Conf. will be held on Feb 9 & 10 at Gtown Univ. The prog comm is now accepting submissions for presenters thru Dec 15. Privacy experts, researchers, data stewards, data practitioners, and public policymakers are all welcome! docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
- PAA is hosting a Congressional Briefing on Dec 10 in 2075 Rayburn. The briefing is entitled "US Birth Rate Trends: Patterns Drivers and Implications for American Families." And yes, ice cream will be made available. docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
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- The #FriendsofBLS has posted FAQs which explain what is likely to happen with reagrd to BLS data collection and releases. both during and after the shutdown. www.friendsofbls.org/updates/2025...
- The #FriendsofBLS are seeking organizational and individual support for their FY26 BLS Endorsement Letter which asks for no less than the House mark of $714M for the Bureau. Link to orginizational sign-on below; individual sign-on form in comments. forms.gle/z9RacEBDAbEY...
- Reposted by COPAFS🚨It's finally here!🚨 AAPOR's Taskforce on 2024 Pre-Election Polling report is out! Full report: /https://aapor.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/AAPOR-Task-Force-on-2024-Pre-Election-Polling_Report.pdf Executive summary: aapor.org/wp-content/u...
- On Oct 23, the #FriendsofBLS hosted a webinar featuring @ericagroshen.bsky.social, @erikamcentarfer.bsky.social and Bill Beach giving an update on BLS and #FriendsofBLS activities as well as issuing a call to action. www.friendsofbls.org/updates/2025...
- Dont forget to register for the #FriendsofBLS webinar this Thursday at 12p!
- The #FriendsofBLS will hold a webinar on Oct 23 at noon. Former Commissioners Erica Groshen, William Beach, and Erika McEntarfer will offer updates, describe strategies, and offer a menu of concrete ways for interested members to engage with Friends of BLS. us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
- The #FriendsofBLS will hold a webinar on Oct 23 at noon. Former Commissioners Erica Groshen, William Beach, and Erika McEntarfer will offer updates, describe strategies, and offer a menu of concrete ways for interested members to engage with Friends of BLS. us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
- Great opinion piece in #thehill: 'Now is not the time to stop measuring food insecurity'. "By not collecting data, we will lack a systematic understanding of the size and distribution of food insecurity in 2025 and efforts to address the need will be less effective." thehill.com/opinion/fina...
- #BLS announced this morning that the September 2025 Consumer Price Index (CPI) will be released at 8:30AM on Friday, Oct 24. No other releases will be scheduled until the federal government shutdown is over. www.bls.gov/bls/092025-c...
- Reposted by COPAFS#BLS has delayed the 2024 Consumer Expenditures Survey annual release. This is likely due to the severe understaffing in the agency. Staff losses and hiring freeze are taking their toll. www.bls.gov/cex/notices/... #econsky
- TODAY at 2p ET: The Independent Census Scientific Advisory Committee Fall Meeting. www.censusscientific.org/meetings/fal...
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- Friends of BLS Statement of Support for the BLS Mission and its Staff. "The [benchmark data] revision reflects BLS doing its job: providing accurate, objective information regardless of political consequences." www.friendsofbls.org/updates/2025...
- COPAFS Statement on the Administration's Reaction to BLS Benchmark Data Revisions "Today’s claims regarding BLS are groundless and may cause further harm to the Bureau’s ability to carry out its work." copafs.org/copafs-state...
- Have questions about BLS and the monthly jobs report? The Friends of BLS have you covered with insightful answers to FAQs. www.friendsofbls.org/updates/2025...
- @popassocamerica.bsky.social invites you to an in-person congressional briefing, "U.S. Birth Rate Trends: Patterns, Drivers, and Implications for American Families", on Wednesday, October 8, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in 2075 Rayburn House Office Building. www.populationassociation.org/events/event...
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- John Cassidy of the @newyorker.com makes the case for an independent BLS. @ericagroshen.bsky.social and Bill Beach weigh in. #econsky #friendsofbls www.newyorker.com/news/the-fin...
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- Friends of BLS Statement on the Nomination of E.J. Antoni to Serve as the 17th Commissioner of BLS www.friendsofbls.org/updates/2025...
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- Reposted by COPAFSFrauke Kreuter giving a deeply informed and rousing defense of the U.S. federal statistical agencies and community at #user2025, with a clear-eyed view of its challenges user2025.r-project.org/program/in-p...
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- Statement on Safeguarding the Integrity of Federal Statistics from the National Academies www.nationalacademies.org/news/2025/08...
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- Trump announces new rules for college admissions data, revamping IPEDS data collection and reporting. www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/...
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- Good summary of reactions from the statistical community on the firing of Commissioner McEntarfer. fedscoop.com/statistics-p...
- AEA Statement on Dismissal of BLS Comm. "The independence of the federal statistical agencies is essential to the proper functioning of a modern economy. Accurate, timely, and impartial statistics are the foundation upon which households, businesses, and policymakers make critical decisions."
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- Statement from Friends of BLS on Commissioner McEntarfer’s Removal. “This escalates the President’s unprecedented attacks on the independence and integrity of the federal statistical system.” www.friendsofbls.org/updates/2025...
- This is an outrageous claim by President Trump. COPAFS stands firmly behind the BLS Commissioner and the data BLS produces.
- This was a great event put on by STAC and featured prominent Members advocating for science. We were happy to attend and share in the mission STAC promotes so dutifully.
- USDA has announced plans for relocation for up to 2,600 DC employees. This includes NASS moving to one of 5 "hubs". “They are concentrating power and want fewer witnesses to what they are doing," said one USDA employee. www.politico.com/news/2025/07...
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- If you want to improve pubic safety, measurement is key.
- Thank you, Dr. Karin Orvis, for your dedication and persistence in advancing excellence in federal statistics. We look forward to continuing our partnership with you and OMB. We welcome Dr. Mark Calabria as the nation's new Chief Statistician. copafs.org/mark-calabri...
- In her own words: Peggy Carr's last days at NCES.
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- As Jerome Powell warned last month, the quality of federal economic data is headed in wrong direction. Without stronger investments of resources and expertise we are headed towards larger MOEs for some estimates on which macro economic decisions are based. www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
- The Jobs report is out today (First Friday is a holiday) and shows a stronger than expected job market despite uncertainty and trepidation in many sectors. Unemployment is at 4.1%, as America added 147,000 new jobs in June. www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
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- OMB has extended the deadline to June 7. Take action today and support federal employee protections.
- ACTION ALERT: We are very concerned about the potential impact on federal statistics of Schedule Policy/Career, a reclassification and politicization of senior federal employees. Please 1) Write your Congressperson and 2) Comment on the Federal Register TODAY. www.friendsofbls.org/updates/2025...
- This is a disturbing development, to say the least.
- Falling responses, budgets & staff are biting. #BLS will cut 350 #ProducerPriceIndex #inflation sub-indexes. It'll be harder to gauge effects of #supplychain disruptions, #tariffs, #monetary, #fiscal & #regulatory #policy and more. www.bls.gov/ppi/notices/... #econsky #PPI @aaronsojourner.org
- The deadline has been extended! Please take a moment to sign on and encourage other orgs to do so. Thank you!
- SIGN-ON: We are asking organizations to sign-on to the EIA FY26 Recommendation Letter led by COPAFS and @asa-scipol.bsky.social. The deadline is Fri, May 16. The letter requests $150M for the Energy Information Administration. Thank you for your consideration! docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
- It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that John Thompson, COPAFS Executive Director from 2017 to 2019, passed away on May 9th. Prior to his stint at COPAFS, John was Director of the Census Bureau and the CEO and President of @norc.org. copafs.org/copafs-remem...
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- SIGN-ON: We are asking organizations to sign-on to the EIA FY26 Recommendation Letter led by COPAFS and @asa-scipol.bsky.social. The deadline is Fri, May 16. The letter requests $150M for the Energy Information Administration. Thank you for your consideration! docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
- ACTION ALERT: We are very concerned about the potential impact on federal statistics of Schedule Policy/Career, a reclassification and politicization of senior federal employees. Please 1) Write your Congressperson and 2) Comment on the Federal Register TODAY. www.friendsofbls.org/updates/2025...
- LDF sues the Dept of Ed on behalf of NAEd and NCME, two education research organizations, challenging the Department's decision to no longer collect, maintain, analyze, and disseminate federal educational data. www.naacpldf.org/press-releas...
