The US Federal Statistical System's Past, Present, and Future

Abstract

This article reviews the US federal statistical system from its roots in the colonial period and the early years of the federal republic through its growth in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries to the present day, including the coordination role played by the US Office of Management and Budget. The review highlights the innovations, benefits, and challenges of the federal statistical system and comments on the role played by major sources of data for the system, including censuses, probability surveys, administrative records, and newer sources. The article also assesses the strengths and weaknesses of the system from studies of the Committee on National Statistics (CNSTAT), a standing unit of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine established in 1972 to link the academic community with federal statisticians and researchers. It concludes with observations on the future of the federal statistical system.