Skip to main content

Interagency Council on Statistical Policy

About ICSP

About Us

The Interagency Council on Statistical Policy (ICSP) (opens in a new tab), led by the U.S. Chief Statistician, supports implementation of the U.S. Federal statistical system's vision to operate as a seamless system, working together to provide strategic vision and robust implementation in support of the statistical system's critical longstanding — and expanding — role for supporting evidence-based decision-making. For example, the ICSP sets strategic goals for modernizing the statistical system, as well as enhancing coordination and collaboration across the system, recognizing the efficiencies and advancements possible when taking advantage of the whole system's statistical infrastructure and expertise.

For more information about the U.S. Federal statistical system, see StatsPolicy.gov (opens in a new tab).

ICSP Authority

The Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 provides the authority for the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to develop, coordinate, and oversee statistical activities, along with the privacy, confidentiality, security, disclosure, and sharing of information, and to appoint the Chief Statistician of the United States and establish the Interagency Council on Statistical Policy (ICSP) to advise and assist the Director to carry out statistical policy. The ICSP was expanded under the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 to include each Statistical Official designated under the Act.

According to the authorizing statutes, the ICSP was established to assist and advise OMB in carrying out their statutory responsibility to coordinate the Federal statistical system to ensure its efficiency and effectiveness, as well as the objectivity, impartiality, utility, and confidentiality of information collected for statistical purposes. Examples of OMB responsibilities include:

  • Developing, maintaining, and overseeing statistical policies, standards, and guidelines.
  • Identifying and implementing priorities for improving statistical programs and methodologies.
  • Assessing statistical agency, unit, and program budgets to ensure they are consistent with system-wide priorities for maintaining and improving the quality of Federal statistics.
  • Coordinating the United States participation in international statistical activities, among other functions.

ICSP Fiscal Years 2025 & 2026 Strategic Goals and Objectives

The ICSP's Strategic Goals and Objectives propel the US Federal Statistical System toward our vision of operating as a seamless system - to become more efficient and effective in providing useful, objective, high quality statistical data and meaningfully and safely expanding access to these data for evidence building purposes. Item 1 is to strengthen FSS' roles, responsibilities, and capacity to ensure data quality and accessibility; Item 2 is to create shared infrastructure, tools, and services to broaden safe access to data; Item 3 is to build communications and community outreach to strengthen the value of Federal data for diverse data provider and user needs.

For the full ICSP Strategic Goals and Objectives, please click here (opens in a new tab).

ICSP Subcommittees

The ICSP also charters subcommittees, as well as sponsoring leadership and mentorship programs. Some examples include:

For more information regarding the Federal statistical system, see StatsPolicy.gov (opens in a new tab).

StatsPolicy.gov brings together important information about the interwoven U.S. Federal statistical system, including its components, priorities, activities, policies, and resources from across the Federal Government.

Return to top

Councils.gov

An Official website of the Federal Government

Looking for U.S. government information and services?
Visit USA.gov