COPAFS
@copafs.bsky.social
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...
www.friendsofbls.org/updates/2026...
Annual Revisions for BLS Jobs Numbers Expected To Be Downward: The Causes Explained — The Friends of the Bureau of Labor Statistics
The Friends of BLS have authored an explanation for the causes for the annual revisions of the BLS Jobs Numbers. You can access the document here .
www.friendsofbls.org
February 4, 2026 at 6:38 PM
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...
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...
www.friendsofbls.org/updates/2026...
Statement on Brett Matsumoto’s Nomination for BLS Commissioner — The Friends of the Bureau of Labor Statistics
Statement on the Nomination of Brett Matsumoto to Serve as the 17th Commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics The Bureau of Labor Statistics, a world-class 142-year-old institution, is at...
www.friendsofbls.org
February 4, 2026 at 6:36 PM
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...
www.friendsofbls.org/updates/2026...
Reposted by COPAFS
Friends 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 ⬇️
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 ⬇️
February 4, 2026 at 5:38 PM
Friends 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 ⬇️
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.
January 30, 2026 at 10:27 PM
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 COPAFS
Thank 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.
You can watch the recording to learn about more than a dozen efforts to monitor and safeguard federal data.
The Day Federal Data Went Dark: A Year of Monitoring and Action
January 31, 2025, is infamous as the day thousands of federal datasets and webpages went dark. While many of these resources have since been restored–often after being scrubbed of references to gender, DEI, and climate–they continue to face significant risks. In the webinar, we mark the one-year anniversary of this takedown to discuss the current state of federal data and recognize the immense amount of work that has been done to defend these public resources. Leaders from the data community will share insights on monitoring tools they have developed and the actions being taken to safeguard essential federal data. This webinar is cohosted by dataindex.us and the Association of Public Data Users. 0:00 Introduction 2:53 EssentialData.US x Federation of American Scientists 6:51 American Statistical Association 10:31 CDC Data Project 14:17 Friends of BLS 17:50 Public Environmental Data Partners 21:24 The Leadership Conference Education Fund 26:26 Movement Advancement Project 30:37 Population Association of America 35:05 Democracy 2025 40:42 Data Rescue Project 44:16 Population Reference Bureau 47:14 Association of Public Data Users 50:10 dataindex.us 55:19 Conclusion
tinyurl.com
January 30, 2026 at 6:56 PM
Thank 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.
You can watch the recording to learn about more than a dozen efforts to monitor and safeguard federal data.
Reposted by COPAFS
NEW: The White House's Office of Management and Budget has a new chief statistician overseeing the Census Bureau & other federal statistical agencies, according to StatsPolicy.gov. Stuart Levenbach has replaced Mark Calabria, according to the website's "About Us" page
statspolicy.gov/about/#members
statspolicy.gov/about/#members
January 23, 2026 at 11:16 PM
NEW: The White House's Office of Management and Budget has a new chief statistician overseeing the Census Bureau & other federal statistical agencies, according to StatsPolicy.gov. Stuart Levenbach has replaced Mark Calabria, according to the website's "About Us" page
statspolicy.gov/about/#members
statspolicy.gov/about/#members
Reducing max contact attempts to 2, would have dramatically reduced response to data collection efforts at Census.
NEW: House Appropriations Committee's latest version of its Census Bureau funding bill no longer calls for altering #2030Census results used for divvying up congressional seats. The bill also no longer calls for taking away the bureau’s ability to “inquire” more than twice to get a survey response
rules.house.gov
January 5, 2026 at 5:55 PM
Reducing max contact attempts to 2, would have dramatically reduced response to data collection efforts at Census.
Reposted by COPAFS
New 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...
"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...
Co-Chairs of the Friends of BLS Statement on the CPI Estimates for November 2025 — The Friends of the Bureau of Labor Statistics
Many of the Friends of BLS follow the Bureau’s publications and press statements very closely. So do many who have not yet found the Friends but nevertheless value what BLS does, particularly in the a...
www.friendsofbls.org
January 1, 2026 at 12:40 AM
New 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...
"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
www.bea.gov
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)
www.bea.gov
December 23, 2025 at 1:59 PM
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
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...
amstat.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: The Nation's Data at Risk: 2025 Report. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.
Join the ASA "Federal Statistics Health" project team for their release of "The Nation's Data at Risk: 2025 Report"! The report updates the team's assessment of the health of the federal statistical a...
amstat.zoom.us
December 9, 2025 at 6:19 PM
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...
amstat.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Reposted by COPAFS
Hard 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...
🚨 CNBC on latest jobs numbers: "A big miss on ADP payrolls. The private payroll company saying private payrolls shed 32,000 workers in Nov. That's the 4th negative number in past 6 months. The estimate was for +40,000, so the street was off ... this may be coming from being hammered by the tariffs"
December 3, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Hard 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.
Reposted by COPAFS
Looking 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...
If you're in the DC area, join us! RSVP here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
December 1, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Looking 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...
If you're in the DC area, join us! RSVP here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Reposted by COPAFS
Friends of BLS letter to Congressional approps
"Bureau’s data releases affect the nation’s economy significantly & it is paramount that they remain accurate, timely, & relevant.... request that the Bureau receive the allocation determined by the House..."
static1.squarespace.com/static/5bedb...
"Bureau’s data releases affect the nation’s economy significantly & it is paramount that they remain accurate, timely, & relevant.... request that the Bureau receive the allocation determined by the House..."
static1.squarespace.com/static/5bedb...
December 1, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Friends of BLS letter to Congressional approps
"Bureau’s data releases affect the nation’s economy significantly & it is paramount that they remain accurate, timely, & relevant.... request that the Bureau receive the allocation determined by the House..."
static1.squarespace.com/static/5bedb...
"Bureau’s data releases affect the nation’s economy significantly & it is paramount that they remain accurate, timely, & relevant.... request that the Bureau receive the allocation determined by the House..."
static1.squarespace.com/static/5bedb...
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...
www.eventbrite.com/e/copafs-qua...
COPAFS Quarterly Meeting - Dec 5, 2025
Join us for a lively discussion at the COPAFS Quarterly Meeting, where federal data will be the topic of the day.
www.eventbrite.com
December 1, 2025 at 8:11 PM
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...
www.eventbrite.com/e/copafs-qua...
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...
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
docs.google.com
November 18, 2025 at 8:11 PM
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...
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...
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
U.S. Birth Rate Trends: Patterns, Drivers, and Implications for American Families
Please join us for an engaging presentations about U.S. fertility trends and related policies.
An expert panel of leading social scientists will discuss national and international birth rate trends ...
docs.google.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:25 PM
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...
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Reposted by COPAFS
Breaking news: The SEPTEMBER JOBS REPORT comes out on THURSDAY., Nov. 20.
BLS will announce revised news release dates on this page as they become available.
#econsky @aaronsojourner.org
www.bls.gov/bls/2025-lap...
BLS will announce revised news release dates on this page as they become available.
#econsky @aaronsojourner.org
www.bls.gov/bls/2025-lap...
Revised news release dates following the 2025 lapse in appropriations
Revised news release dates following the 2025 lapse in appropriations
www.bls.gov
November 14, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Breaking news: The SEPTEMBER JOBS REPORT comes out on THURSDAY., Nov. 20.
BLS will announce revised news release dates on this page as they become available.
#econsky @aaronsojourner.org
www.bls.gov/bls/2025-lap...
BLS will announce revised news release dates on this page as they become available.
#econsky @aaronsojourner.org
www.bls.gov/bls/2025-lap...
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...
www.friendsofbls.org/updates/2025...
2025 Government Shutdown FAQs on BLS Data — The Friends of the Bureau of Labor Statistics
The Friends of BLS The 2025 Government Shutdown and BLS Data: Questions & Answers How will the government shutdown, which may be over by the time you read this, affect BLS data? F...
www.friendsofbls.org
November 12, 2025 at 6:40 PM
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...
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...
forms.gle/z9RacEBDAbEY...
Friends of BLS FY26 Endorsement Letter Organizational Sign-on Form
November xx, 2025
The Honorable Susan Collins, Chair
Senate Appropriations Committee
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Tom Cole, Chair
House Appropriations Committee
Washington, DC 20515
The Honora...
forms.gle
November 12, 2025 at 6:01 PM
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...
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...
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...
aapor.org
October 29, 2025 at 5:12 PM
🚨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...
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...
www.friendsofbls.org/updates/2025...
VIDEO: Friends of BLS Member Webinar - Oct 2025 — The Friends of the Bureau of Labor Statistics
On Thursday, October 23, 2025, the Friends of BLS hosted a webinar featuring three former BLS Commissioners: Erika McEntarfer, Bill Beach, and Erica Groshen. The webinar gives an update o...
www.friendsofbls.org
October 27, 2025 at 8:33 PM
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...
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...
us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Friends of BLS Member Webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.
Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Friends of BLS Member Webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.
us02web.zoom.us
October 20, 2025 at 3:14 PM
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...
us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Friends of BLS Member Webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.
Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Friends of BLS Member Webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.
us02web.zoom.us
October 13, 2025 at 1:34 PM
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...
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...
"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...
thehill.com
October 10, 2025 at 10:02 PM
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...
"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...