119th (2025–2027)
H.R. 4907
This bill protects four major federal statistical agencies—the Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center for Education Statistics, and Bureau of Justice Statistics—by giving their leaders greater job security and independence from political pressure. The legislation establishes six-year fixed terms for agency heads, with staggered appointments so no more than two terms expire in any year, and requires Senate confirmation for all appointments. Most importantly, the President can only remove these leaders "for cause," defined narrowly as proven inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance—but explicitly not based on the substance, conclusions, or timing of statistical data released by the agencies. The bill also ensures that agency heads maintain final authority over their agencies' methodologies, data analysis, and release schedules, while prohibiting political tests for hiring and promotion of professional staff. These protections aim to preserve public trust in federal statistics by preventing political interference with data collection and reporting.