PRIA Logo™
119-hr-4907119th Congress

Statistical Agency Integrity and Independence Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Whitesides, George [D-CA-27]

Introduced

Summary

Statistical agency independence is the bill's aim. It would insulate the chiefs of four federal statistical agencies with fixed six-year terms, staggered appointments, and protections against political removal to keep data production free from political pressure.

Show full summary
  • Heads of the four covered agencies would serve six-year terms, be appointed by the President with Senate confirmation, and could be removed only for proven inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance.
  • Each head would have final authority over professional and technical decisions, including methodologies, report content, and the timing of data releases, which must be announced publicly in advance.
  • Professional hiring, evaluation, and promotion would be shielded from political tests, and agencies must provide a public, written explanation if release timing changes for technical reasons.
  • Initial appointments would be staggered to set a steady schedule so no more than two terms expire in any calendar year, using shorter initial slots then moving to full six-year cycles.

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Agency control over statistics and staff

The bill would give each covered statistical agency head final authority over technical choices, methods, and the content of reports and press releases. Agencies would have to publish data release schedules in advance. Release dates could be changed only for technical, non-political reasons and must include a public, written explanation. The bill would also ban using political tests when hiring, evaluating, or promoting professionally qualified agency staff.

Insulated leaders for federal statistics

The bill would define which agencies are covered and set new rules for their top officials. The President would appoint each head with Senate approval for a six-year term. Terms would be staggered so no more than two end in a year, and incumbents could stay until a confirmed successor arrives. The bill prescribes an initial staggering schedule (first three six-year, next four four-year, remaining three two-year) and says vacancies are filled for a full six-year term. The President could remove a head only for proven inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance, and not for the content or timing of agency data or reports.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Whitesides, George [D-CA-27]

CA • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 8/5/2025

  • Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4]

    NV • D

    Sponsored 8/5/2025

  • Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 8/5/2025

  • Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1]

    OH • D

    Sponsored 8/5/2025

  • Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 2/10/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
Back to Legislation