A Federal Statistical System for the Age of Economic Security

Statistics are not a technical afterthought—they are the bedrock of U.S. economic security. Timely, accurate, and credible data serve as the operating system of the modern economy, enabling markets to function, businesses to invest, policymakers to govern, and the public to hold institutions accountable. Yet, just as the United States enters a new era of economic security, the U.S. statistical system is under growing strain. Flat budgets, aging IT infrastructure, declining survey response rates, and rising politicization are eroding its capacity precisely when it is needed most. At the same time, the system remains largely oriented toward macroeconomic management, with limited coverage of increasingly critical domains such as technological competitiveness, supply chain vulnerabilities, and economic statecraft.

In November 2025, the CSIS Economic Security and Technology (EST) Department convened a workshop to assess how federal statistics are used, where the system is under pressure, and which gaps matter most for economic security. The findings were clear and consistent. Participants agreed that while the U.S. statistical system remains a global gold standard, it is increasingly misaligned with the needs of today’s policymakers and businesses. They highlighted its essential role in investment, regional development, and national resilience, while pointing to growing challenges related to trust, resources, privacy, and governance. This report synthesizes takeaways from the workshop, reflecting this tension and collectively supporting a central conclusion: Sustaining U.S. competitiveness and resilience will require a federal statistical system that is explicitly designed to support economic security objectives alongside its traditional macroeconomic mission.

This report is made possible through support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.