BLS Tightens Safeguards After Early Economic Data Releases in 2024

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has taken steps to reduce the risk of improper disclosure of data, although there is more the agency can do, the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General (OIG) said Tuesday (June 30).

The OIG said this in a press release outlining findings from its report examining the BLS’ response to three incidents in 2024 in which it released essential economic information improperly or prematurely.

These incidents included the premature release of Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Real Earnings data to 72 internet service providers in May 2024, the release of Current Employment Statistics (CES) data via telephone and email to some external users who asked about it when there was a delay in publishing it in August 2024, and the sharing of internal CPI methodology with a limited group of external users before it was released to the public on three separate occasions in 2024, according to the release.

“Protecting the integrity of our nation’s economic data is paramount,” Anthony P. D’Esposito, inspector general, U.S. Department of Labor, said in the release. “These incidents demonstrate why stronger safeguards and clear procedures are essential.

“While BLS has taken meaningful steps to reduce the risk of improper disclosures, our work reinforces that continued improvements are critical to ensure every user has equal and secure access to federal economic information,” D’Esposito said.

In response to the three incidents in 2024, BLS updated its IT safeguards, revised its performance standards, enhanced its management oversight, updated its policies and expanded its staff training, according to the release.

Following its examination of the response, OIG recommended that BLS further strengthen its testing procedures, provide clearer guidance related to restricted access information in its training programs, and finalize a plan to ensure timely internal reporting in the case of any future incident, per the release.

In BLS’ response to these findings, which was included in the OIG report, BLS Acting Commissioner William J. Wiatrowski said that BLS believes it has already addressed some of the report’s recommendations.

“Though it would have been preferable for the report and its recommendations to reflect all improvements implemented, BLS will address any outstanding OIG recommendations in pursuit of continued transparency and accountability for data users and to reaffirm its commitment to maintaining data integrity,” Wiatrowski said.