H.R. 4907 — Statistical Agency Integrity and Independence Act of 2025

This section sets forth congressional findings on the importance of timely, credible, and impartial data from Federal statistical agencies free from political influence and declares the purpose of the Act to strengthen public trust in such data by insulating agency leadership through fixed terms of office, staggered appointments, and for-cause removal protections.

This section defines two terms for purposes of the Act: (1) "covered statistical agency," meaning the Bureau of the Census (Department of Commerce), Bureau of Labor Statistics (Department of Labor), National Center for Education Statistics (Department of Education), or Bureau of Justice Statistics (Department of Justice); and (2) "head of a covered statistical agency," meaning the Director, Commissioner, or Administrator who is the highest-ranking official of such an agency.

This section establishes requirements for the appointment and term of office of the head of each covered statistical agency (i.e., principal federal statistical agencies such as the Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics). It specifies (1) presidential appointment by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, (2) a six-year term staggered so that no more than two terms expire in any calendar year, (3) continued service after term expiration until a successor is appointed and confirmed, and (4) a full six-year term for any appointment to fill a vacancy.

This section establishes that the President may remove the head of a covered statistical agency only for cause, defined as proven inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office, and prohibits basing such a determination on the substance, conclusions, or timing of any statistical data, report, or release prepared by the agency.

This section establishes guarantees of professional independence for covered statistical agencies. Specifically, it (1) requires the agency head to have final authority over methodologies, procedures, and scientific processes for data collection and analysis; content of statistical reports, press releases, and publications; and timing and scheduling of data releases (which must be announced publicly in advance and may be altered only for technical, non-political reasons with a public written explanation); and (2) prohibits political tests or qualifications in the appointment, evaluation, or promotion of professionally qualified employees.

This section establishes initial staggered terms for the 10 appointments required by this Act, as determined by the President, to comply with the six-year term structure in section 4(b): (1) the first three appointments for six years; (2) the next four appointments for four years; (3) the remaining three appointments for two years; and (4) all subsequent appointments for a full term of six years.

This section establishes a severability clause, providing that if any provision of the Act or its application to any person or circumstance is held unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act and its applications to other persons or circumstances remain unaffected.