Much of the conversation about the disruptions to the federal statistical system over the past year and a half has focused, understandably, on the impacts on the agencies themselves: staffing levels, budget cuts, methodology changes, and the fate of individual data products. However, the users on the other end of that system, the researchers, advocates, planners, and analysts who rely on federal data to do their jobs, are just as important to be listening to.
In early 2026, we surveyed more than 500 users of federal statistical data, including those in academia, nonprofit and advocacy organizations, government agencies, and the private sector, to ask a direct question, “how have changes at federal statistical agencies affected your ability to do your work?” The results, published in our report Voices from the Data Community, offer a clear look at this question. We found several dominant themes.