American Statistical Association Office of Science Policy
AStatA science policy: raising the profile of statistics in policymaking and advocating on interests of statisticians. Posts by Steve Pierson
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- To receive monthly updates on the federal statistical agencies, sign up for our #CountOnStats newsletter: amstat-ms.informz.net/AMSTAT-MS/pa.... See the June update here: amstat-ms.informz.net/InformzDataS.... The updates are summarized from our monitoring page: bit.ly/FedStatMonitoring.
- "Short-staffed agencies have pared back data they collect and share, creating blind spots for state and local governments and businesses." Thanks to @emmamarienelson.bsky.social for the careful research & local perspective. www.startribune.com/federal-data... #FederalStatistics #CountOnStats
- COSSA Members, please join us tomorrow for this webinar on the President's FY26 budget request. I'll be presenting on the #FederalStatistics agencies.
- Most of the NCES' 30+ surveys have been stalled since February as have the associated products, including the National Teacher and Principal Survey . Learn more about how it's used, by whom, and what makes it distinctive: www.amstat.org/docs/default... #DataInfrastructure #FederalStatistics #NCES
- SABEW, the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing, is raising alarm over troubling signs of deterioration in the quality and timeliness of work by federal statistical agencies. sabew.org/2025/06/sabe... #econsky @bencasselman.bsky.social @chrisrugaber.bsky.social @samsutton.bsky.social
- Please join us tomorrow (Tuesday, June 10, 12pm ET) for this 30-minute webinar on Counting Exonerations using the National Registry of Exonerations, featuring Simon Cole and sponsored by the @amstatnews.bsky.social Law and Justice Statistics Committee. amstat.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
- ⬇️Updates on the federal statistical agencies for the week of June 2, 2025⬇️ Summarized from bit.ly/FedStatMonit... #FederalStatistics #DataInfrastructure #CountOnStats www.linkedin.com/posts/steve-...
- Our webpage listing updates regarding the federal statistical agencies now has the updates listed by agency. Please check it out and let us know of any comments or updates we might be missing. #DataInfrastructure #CountOnStats #FederalStatistics www.amstat.org/the-nations-...
- Federal Statistical Agency updates for the week of May 26 www.linkedin.com/posts/steve-... and bit.ly/FedStatMonit... #DataInfrastructure #FederalStatistics #CountOnStats
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- To ensure science integrity, ASA urges exceptions for 2 types of science positions and statistical agencies in OPM Schedule Policy/Career (nee "F") Rule www.amstat.org/docs/default... @amstatnews.bsky.social #ScientificIntegrity
- 📰The latest Monthly #CountOnStats update is now available: amstat-ms.informz.net/InformzDataS.... 🔍 The updates are summarized from our monitoring page: bit.ly/FedStatMonit.... 📧Sign up for our monthly newsletter: amstat-ms.informz.net/AMSTAT-MS/pa.... #DataInfrastructure
- "Whether they are geeks in garages or eggheads in university labs, American entrepreneurs have built their ideas and fortunes on the back of basic research supported by taxpayers, who then reap the rewards." www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
- .@NSF funded research gave us smartphones, Google, & tools that detect cancer. Now, as the agency turns 75, it's facing devastating cuts. Science fuels innovation & our economy. Let’s not cut the engine. #SaveNSF #NSFfunded #NSF75
- 📰The latest Monthly Count on Stats Update is now available: amstat-ms.informz.net/InformzDataS.... 🔍 The updates are summarized from our monitoring page: bit.ly/FedStatMonit.... 📧Sign up for the monthly #CountOnStats newsletter: amstat-ms.informz.net/AMSTAT-MS/pa.... #DataInfrastructure
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- We’ve partnered with the Government Statistical Service to explore the future of the stats profession How will the role change over the next decade & what skills will make it future-ready? Read highlights from our first roundtable & share your thoughts ⤵️ rss.org.uk/news-publica...
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- To receive monthly updates on the federal statistical agencies, sign up for our #CountOnStats newsletter: amstat-ms.informz.net/AMSTAT-MS/pa.... The updates are summarized from our monitoring page: bit.ly/FedStatMonit.... #DataInfrastructure
- Federal statistical agencies: They count, too #Statistics need more budget and support. #econsky @aaronsojourner.org @asa-scipol.bsky.social @copafs.bsky.social #data #indicators #census #bls #bea #jobs #inflation #gdp #productivity #cpi @fednews.bsky.social federalnewsnetwork.com/tom-temin-co...
- "A sudden elimination of surveys could rattle the private sector, too. Analysts at financial firms guzzle up government data releases, scrutinising even slight shifts in figures." www.economist.com/united-state... #DataInfrastructure #CountOnStats
- "Without good statistics, the government, the economy, whole industries — everything becomes flying in thick fog with no instruments." Tom Temin for @federalnewsnetwork.com federalnewsnetwork.com/tom-temin-co... #DataInfrastructure #CountOnStats
- The US currently administers a wide range of data collections, each for specific federal government uses. You can explore detailed information on approximately 1000 programs, including statutory reference here: www.censusofsurveys.com/about/about.... #DataInfrastructure #CountOnStats
- "NAEP is the education equivalent of the canary in the coal mine, warning us of deficiencies in K-12 education when there is still time to act. Without this data, the entire education system would be at risk..." David Winston in @rollcall.com rollcall.com/2025/03/26/w... #DataInfrastructure
- Chatting about the importance of official stats and their future. statsandstories.net/methods/coun... #econsky
- "Anomaly" CR funds will help #BLS continue to produce a trustworthy #jobsreport w/ #unemployment rate & other #labormarket and #economicdata. Perhaps this signals that Congress will attend to modernizing BLS? www.lmiontheweb.org/funding-boos... #econosky @aaronsojourner.org @asa-scipol.bsky.social
- "Having the absolute highest standards of data quality, which the United States government statistical agencies have, is absolutely crucial,” @goolsbee.bsky.social, president of the Chicago Fed, told the @financialtimes.com this week. #DataInfrastructure #CountOnStats www.ft.com/content/57ef...
- "One of the government’s most vital activities is the gathering of reliable statistics to guide policy." Tom Temin of @federalnewsnetwork.com speaks with Nancy Potok about the future availability, integrity of govt statistics federalnewsnetwork.com/agency-overs... #DataInfrastructure #CountOnStats
- The United Kingdom's challenges with economic statistics underscore the urgency of the Administration and Congress to invest in modernization at the US federal statistical agencies, the backbone of the our #DataInfrastructure. www.bloomberg.com/news/article... #CountOnStats
- "The abrupt removal of experts supporting monthly reports that are closely watched by everyone from the Federal Reserve to business leaders is a sign of trouble ahead for agencies responsible for providing vital measurements of inflation..." www.politico.com/news/2025/03... #DataInfrastructure
- "Effective policymaking, by government agencies & central banks, as well as decisionmaking by investors & businesses, relies on accurate & timely data. Trustworthy statistics are vital, too, for experts & the public to assess governments’ performance." www.ft.com/content/a2cb... #DataInfrastructure
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- Testing expert Andrew Ho on maintaining statistical, psychometric rigor of Nation's Report Card: “If you think maintaining NAEP is as easy as ‘90% is an A,’ then you think folding a paper airplane qualifies you to design a 747.” www.the74million.org/article/afte... #DataInfrastructure #CountOnStats
- R.I.P. #DUAC & #BLSTAC. The Labor Sec. just terminated BLS’s 2 remaining advisory committees. Members got notice today (3/19/25). See attached text. #FESAC, which served #BLS, BEA & Census jointly, was axed on 3/4/25. @stevepierson123.bsky.social @aaronsojourner.org
- "For government to be modern, efficient, and effective, decision-makers and citizens alike must have access to clear, reliable data." @steveballmer1.bsky.social for @usafacts.org www.linkedin.com/posts/usafac... #DataInfrastructure #CountOnStats
- Good to see the FT editorial draw attention to this less well known casualty of the US regime - official statistics on.ft.com/43Tejhn
- Our latest updates on the health of federal statistical agencies: 5/13 statistical agency heads are acting; at least 3 local census counts are stalled; key census surveys experienced interviewer staffing gaps going back to FY19. HT @hansilowang.bsky.social for last 2 www.amstat.org/the-nations-...
- "US official statistics really are the gold standard." There's no private sector data point that's a substitute for the hundreds of thousands of establishments that BLS surveys monthly. Neil Dutta to @pkrugman.bsky.social paulkrugman.substack.com/p/how-worrie... #DataInfrastructure
- On IRS losing its #DataInfrastructure professionals: Using data & statistical methods including AI, they are improving the taxpayer experience, reducing the burden on taxpayers , producing statistics critical for understanding the tax system economy… taxpolicycenter.org/taxvox/new-i... #CountOnStats
- "We are baffled, because thought that we would be spared ... because our work is mandated by law," one statistician told ABC News. "We thought any administration would want to measure how successful their policies are." abcnews.go.com/Politics/edu... #CountOnStats #DataInfrastructure
- “The idea of having 3 individuals manage the work that was done by a hundred federal employees supported by thousands of contractors is ludicrous and not humanly possible,” said Stephen Provasnik, former deputy NCES commissioner hechingerreport.org/proof-points... #CountOnStats #DataInfrastructure
- Here are five things we only know about schools thanks to the National Center for Education Statistics. www.epi.org/blog/trump-a... Thanks, @epi.org. #CountonStats
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- Our latest update on the health of the federal statistical agencies is on the estimates starting to emerge for staffing loss due to probationary employee firings, "Fork in the Road" separations, & early retirement. Please share with us any stat agency developments. www.amstat.org/the-nations-...
- Reagan's Department of Education Appointees William Bennett and Chester Finn write Secretary McMahon on the importance of sustaining The Nation's Report Card to track the educational progress of American students. www.the74million.org/article/an-o...
- Thanks to @wailinwong.bsky.social for covering this! #econsky #jobsday #unemployment #statistics #jobs #employment #federalstatistics
- The longtime head of the American Statistical Association (ASA), Ronald Wasserstein, says these panels also serve an important role as watchdogs. “Disbanding them eliminates an important check on how well the government is doing its work.” @amstatnews.bsky.social www.science.org/content/arti...
- We need to ensure federal statistical agencies endure the rapid transformation of the federal government underway. Here are 5 situations we are monitoring to ensure federal statistical agencies continue producing the high-quality, credible, & trusted products. www.linkedin.com/pulse/five-s...
- BREAKING: Economic data advisory committees were also disbanded www.streetinsider.com/Reuters/Trum...
- The American Statistical Association is proud to join the Friends of AHRQ and over 190 other groups in calling on Congress to fully fund AHRQ for FY26 and beyond. Read our letter to Congress: academyhealth.org/blog/2025-03... @amstatnews.bsky.social
- The upcoming meetings for both the Bureau of Economic Analysis Advisory Committee and the Federal Economic Statistics Advisory Committee are cancelled. See these updates and others at the following webpage, and please send us other updates on federal statistics: www.amstat.org/the-nations-....
- "Removing the head of a statistical agency without justifiable professional cause is likely to erode this trust, as it will be perceived by many as an attempt to improperly influence official statistics or as a signal of distrust in the agency itself" -Woodworth, NCES Commissioner 2018-21
- I'll chair a webinar on The Future for Data Access TUES, 3/4, 2-3:30pm ET. The free @appam.bsky.social event focuses on recent changes in federal govt #data access, esp. for researchers. appam.memberclicks.net/FutureforDat... @jedkolko.bsky.social #econsky #statistics @asa-scipol.bsky.social
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- I'm chairing a webinar on The Future for Data Access Mon, 3/4, 2-3:30 pm ET. The free @appam.bsky.social event focuses on recent changes in federal govt #data access, esp. for researchers. appam.memberclicks.net/FutureforDat... @jedkolko.bsky.social #econsky #statistics @asa-scipol.bsky.social
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- Do you have information on the health of the federal statistical agencies, or want to follow updates? Please visit this webpage, contribute information, & spread the word on this effort to help ensure the availability, credibility, & objectivity of federal statistics. www.amstat.org/the-nations-...
- Please see @ron-wasserstein.bsky.social post on LinkedIn regarding the placement of Dr. Peggy Carr, Commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, on administrative leave. "profoundly disappointing and indeed alarming" www.linkedin.com/posts/ron-wa... @amstatnews.bsky.social
- AStatA members: Please see the messages to ASA Connect about writing your elected officials in DC about the recent changes to federal research funding agencies: community.amstat.org/discussion/f.... Wednesday's & today's posts have various resources, opportunities from several associations.
- "Federal Statistical data sets like an X-ray. They provide information about the population throughout the US, diving all the way down to individual neighborhoods… we can really … figure out what’s going on in our communities." Dave Van Riper @marketplace.org www.marketplace.org/2025/02/20/w...
- This a thorough and well-researched piece from Geoffrey Skelley. Please share with your networks to highlight the benefits of government data to businesses, people, and government.
- 768 people & 90 orgs signed a letter to alert WH & Congress to risks of inaction to modernize federal stats. Now, please amplify: -Repost -Share w/your Senators & House Reps & networks Letter: www.amstat.org/docs/default... Release: www.amstat.org/news-listing... #econsky @econosky.bsky.social
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- Do you use federal statistics? Please share your feedback regardless of whether you are a federal statistics novice or a seasoned power user. We welcome examples of how you use federal statistics, suggestions to improve both the data & user experience, & more. gmu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
- Science: What will happen to the data? Woodworth: It’s not clear. NCES doesn’t have its own data center, b/c NCES has never been given the funds to set one up and hire people to run it. So the data are held by the contractors… [is] data storage also being terminated? www.science.org/content/arti...
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- The Friends of the National Center for Health Statistics is deeply concerned about the systematic removal of taxpayer-funded public health information and data sets from the CDC website. Read the full statement: static1.squarespace.com/static/5852a... Join Friends of NCHS: bit.ly/JoinFriendsO...
- Please consider signing this letter to Congress and the Administration regarding threats to our nation’s economic statistical infrastructure, specifically the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the U.S. Census Bureau: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
- Thanks to COPAFS for their leadership on this! Please consider signing.
- SIGN-ON Letter to Congressional leadership expressing concern about the recent incidents involving federal data being selectively removed from agency websites. Please consider signing on. Thank you. We are accepting signatures until noon (ET), Friday, February 7. docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
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- Please consider signing & sharing this letter calling "on Congress to demand the complete restoration of any federal data that have been removed & to work with the Administration to prevent any future purge or removal of data from federal agency websites & portals." docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F....
