Dr. Karin Orvis, Chief Statistician of the United States

2023 Federal Committee on Statistical Methodology 

Research and Policy Conference

Oct 24, 2023

Welcome and Opening Remarks
Welcome to the 2023 FCSM Conference!

Program Committee 

Members

• Maura Bardos, EIA

• Alisha Coleman-Jensen, ERS

• Alexia Cooper, BJS 

• Gavin Corral, NASS

• Brian Cramer, NCES

• Kyle Hood, BEA

• Diba Khan, NCHS

• Tamara Lee, VA

• Richard Levy, Census Bureau

• Justin D. Nguyen, 

Census Bureau

• Jennifer Rhorer, NASS

• Sharon M. Stern, 

Census Bureau

• Ed Strocko, BTS

• Suzanne Strong, BJS

• Valerie Testa, SOI

• Julie Weeks, NCHS

• Doug Williams, BLS

Chair/Co-Chairs

• Jeffrey Gonzalez, BLS

• Jessica Graber, NCHS

• Jessica Holzberg, Census 

Bureau 

• David Kashihara, AHRQ 

• Darius Singpurwalla, NCSES

• Paul Schroeder, COPAFS

2
2023 FCSM Conference Theme:

Building Toward the Future: 

Strengthening and Expanding the Capacity 

of the Federal Statistical Ecosystem

3
Federal Committee on Statistical Methodology

FCSM.gov

Great resources like Data Protection 

Toolkit and Framework for Data Quality

Link to Register for Free Virtual Training: Visit FCSM.gov

4
The Federal Statistical System
6

See: StatsPolicy.Gov

Who Are We?

Decentralized, Interconnected System:

• Chief Statistician of the United States 

(CSOTUS)

• 16 Recognized Statistical Agencies 

and Units (RSAUs)

• ~ 100 Other Statistical Programs

• 24 Statistical Officials (S.O.s)

• Interagency Council on Statistical 

Policy (ICSP)

• Federal Committee on Statistical 

Methodology (FCSM)

U.S. Federal Statistical System (FSS)

Bureau of 

Transportati

on Statistics

Bureau of 

Labor 

Statistics

National 

Agricultural 

Statistics 

Service

Bureau of 

Economic 

Analysis

Bureau of 

the Census

Economic 

Research 

Service

National 

Center for 

Health 

Statistics

National 

Center for 

Education 

Statistics

Office of 

Research, 

Evaluation, 

and 

Statistics

National 

Center for 

Science and 

Engineering 

Statistics

Bureau of 

Justice 

Statistics

Chief 

Statistician 

of the U.S.

Statistics of 

Income

Microecono

mic Surveys 

Unit

Center for 

Behavioral 

Health 

Statistics 

and Quality

Energy 

Information 

Administrati

on

~ 100 Other 

Statistical 

Programs

24 

Statistic

al 

Officials

National 

Animal 

Health 

Monitoring 

System
U.S. Federal Statistical System (FSS)

• What’s Our Common Purpose?

• To provide useful, objective, high quality statistical 

data – and meaningfully expand access to this 

data for evidence building purposes

• Our Vision:

“Operates as a seamless system, 

as stewards of much of the nation’s most 

sensitive data, enabling greater evidence 

building, civic engagement, and public and 

private sector decision-making”

• Seamless?  Example Definitions:

• Smooth and continuous – with no apparent gaps or spaces 

between one part and next

• Happening without changes, interruptions, or difficulty

• Without noticeable change from one part to the next 7

Bureau of 

Transportati

on Statistics

Bureau of 

Labor 

Statistics

National 

Agricultural 

Statistics 

Service

Bureau of 

Economic 

Analysis

Bureau of 

the Census

Economic 

Research 

Service

National 

Center for 

Health 

Statistics

National 

Center for 

Education 

Statistics

Office of 

Research, 

Evaluation, 

and 

Statistics

National 

Center for 

Science and 

Engineering 

Statistics

Bureau of 

Justice 

Statistics

Chief 

Statistician 

of the U.S.

Statistics of 

Income

Microecono

mic Surveys 

Unit

Center for 

Behavioral 

Health 

Statistics 

and Quality

Energy 

Information 

Administrati

on

~ 100 Other 

Statistical 

Programs

24 

Statistic

al 

Officials

National 

Animal 

Health 

Monitoring 

System

See: StatsPolicy.Gov
What does a ‘Seamless’ FSS Look Like?

o Efficiency and effectiveness in working together to address challenges

 Cross collaboration and coordination

 Integrating data across agencies and missions 

 No unnecessary duplication of effort within/across agencies in data life cycle

 Use of common frameworks, guidelines, techniques, and best practices

 Shared infrastructure, services and capacities, when feasible

o Seamless, common "experience" for data users

o Shared decision-making

o Shared communication and messaging – Speaking in one voice 

to strengthen FSS brand recognition and trust in Federal statistics broadly

*Operating as a seamless system requires active engagement from all of us!* 8
Current Efforts and Way Forward Toward This Vision

o Shared governance, decision-making, and communications

o ICSP, FCSM, agency data governance

o System-wide regulations and policies - providing common frameworks 

o Three Evidence Act regulations!

o Statistical Policy Directives for Common Statistical and Classification Standards

o Shared infrastructure, services, tools, and capacities

o The Federal Statistical Research Data Centers (FSRDCs)

o The Standard Application Process (SAP)

o A potential National Secure Data Service (NSDS)

o FCSM Tools – Data Quality Framework, Data Protection Toolkit, etc.

o Seamless, common "experience" for data users

o Many of the above!

*These Are Reflective of my Priorities, and of the ICSP, for the FSS.* 9
Few Highlighted FSS Priorities

• Advancing the “Trust” regulation 

• Presumption of Access regulation

• Expanding Secure Data Access regulation

• Standard Application Process (SAP)

• National Secure Data Service (NSDS) demonstration

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U.S. – Trust Regulation

The Four Responsibilities / Principles 

of Statistical Agencies (and their Staff)

See also, strong alignment with the 

United Nations’ Fundamental 

Principles of Official Statistics (FPOS)

 – Celebrating 30 years of the FPOS! 

See: https://unece.org/FPOS30

SUPPORT FROM OTHER AGENCIES

Relevant 

& Timely

Credible 

& Accurate

Objective Confidentiality & 

Exclusive 

Statistical Use

Trust

11
Few Highlighted FSS Priorities

• Advancing the “Trust” regulation 

• Presumption of Access regulation

• Expanding Secure Data Access regulation

• Standard Application Process (SAP)

• National Secure Data Service (NSDS) demonstration

12
Few Highlighted FSS Priorities

• Advancing the “Trust” regulation 

• Presumption of Access regulation

• Expanding Secure Data Access regulation

• Standard Application Process (SAP)

• National Secure Data Service (NSDS) demonstration

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Standard Application Process (SAP)

For more see: https://ncses.nsf.gov/about/standard-application-process 14

SAP Informational Video
National Secure Data Service (NSDS)

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For more information:

Stop by the Booth at FCSM 

and Sessions G-4 or G-6!

https://ncses.nsf.gov/about/national-secure-data-service-demo

https://www.americasdatahub.org/idea-bank-form

We need your input and ideas!

Commission on 

Evidence-Based 

Policymaking
Other Example ‘Seamless’ Efforts Across FSS

• Government-wide Statistical Standards 

and Classification Standards

Examples:

• Review & revision of OMB’s Standards 

for Maintaining, Collecting, and Presenting 

Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity

• See spd15revision.gov

• Implementation of New Strategy: 

National Strategy for Statistics for 

Environmental-Economic Decisions

• ITWG to develop new classification system

• Executive Order on Bioeconomy

• ITWG on bioeconomy to produce 

recommendations for updating Industry 

and Product Classification Systems 

(NAICS & NAPCS) 16
17

StatsPolicy.gov - launched! 

Includes many resources:

• Information about the U.S. FSS, 

including about its leadership, and 

top priorities and activities

• Community News and Events

• Governing Laws and Policies

• Statistical Policy Directives 

• Chapters in the Analytical Perspectives 

volume of the President's Budget

• Reports to Congress on the Statistical 

Programs of the U.S. Government 

• and more!

Other Example ‘Seamless’ Efforts Across FSS
FSS-Wide Engagement Opportunities!

• FCSM Groups FCSM.gov/groups/ 

Engage with experts on topics/ 

methodologies; produce products

• Interest Groups

• Working Groups 

• ICSP Mentoring Program

• Annual program

• Next kickoff in early 2024

• Structured mentor/mentee 

relationships for professional 

development

• Office of the CSOTUS

• Come on a Detail with us! 

• Support FSS-wide priorities 

through leading projects, 

developing statistical policies, 

and/or supporting implementation

• Participate in topical ITWGs

• Engage with experts to review and 

analyze an FSS issue/challenge 

and develop recommendations to 

the CSOTUS

Get Involved! 

Connect with us! Statistical_Directives@omb.eop.gov

 FSS Website: https://www.statspolicy.gov/ 18
New Challenges and New Opportunities 

for the Federal Statistical System

Dr. Katharine Abraham

Distinguished University Professor, University of Maryland

Chair, Committee on National Statistics, 

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine