The Center for American Progress (CAP), along with 140 organizations, has urged the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate Appropriations Committees to increase funding for the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Current Population Survey (CPS). The letter requests an additional $20.6 million above fiscal year 2024 levels for fiscal year 2025 appropriations to maintain the CPS's role as a key national economic indicator.

In total, the request seeks $650.6 million in congressional appropriations for BLS and $68 million from the Employment Security Administration account in the Unemployment Trust Fund.

Two former BLS commissioners, Dr. Erica L. Groshen and Dr. William Beach, co-authored the letter. Both served under Presidents Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden, working together across party lines to emphasize the need for adequate funding.

The letter highlights that despite providing essential data such as the monthly unemployment rate, the CPS faces potential cuts due to insufficient resources. Additional funding is deemed necessary to preserve data accuracy and integrity by modernizing data collection methods.

For more information or expert commentary, contact Sarah Nadeau at [email protected].