It is in fact illegal under CIPSEA (44 U.S.C. 3561 et seq.) if we’re still keeping score. Penalties up to 5 years in prison and up to $250K fine.
It follows that Trump leaked the most market-moving economic numbers that exist.
I have no idea how illegal this is, or if the law even matters any more.
But I do know this: It's unprecedented. No White House has ever before leaked such important market-moving numbers. No serious country does this
I have no idea how illegal this is, or if the law even matters any more.
But I do know this: It's unprecedented. No White House has ever before leaked such important market-moving numbers. No serious country does this
January 10, 2026 at 12:16 AM
It is in fact illegal under CIPSEA (44 U.S.C. 3561 et seq.) if we’re still keeping score. Penalties up to 5 years in prison and up to $250K fine.
right after you cutoff the third one is where this binds though: you can't really just amend T26, you need to comprehensively amend and harmonize the relevant privacy statutes (T13, CIPSEA, HIPAA, FERPA, title 42, etc) or you're back in bespoke agreements land.
October 28, 2025 at 2:26 PM
right after you cutoff the third one is where this binds though: you can't really just amend T26, you need to comprehensively amend and harmonize the relevant privacy statutes (T13, CIPSEA, HIPAA, FERPA, title 42, etc) or you're back in bespoke agreements land.
CIPSEA (reauthorized under Trump in 2018!) provides that if you let the wrong person see confidential data, you can go to prison for 5 years and be fined $250,000.
www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/...
OP: x.com/stuartbuck1/...
www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/...
OP: x.com/stuartbuck1/...
February 18, 2025 at 7:32 AM
CIPSEA (reauthorized under Trump in 2018!) provides that if you let the wrong person see confidential data, you can go to prison for 5 years and be fined $250,000.
www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/...
OP: x.com/stuartbuck1/...
www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/...
OP: x.com/stuartbuck1/...
DOGE allowed to access BLS data...
A judge has ruled that DOGE can access Dept of Labor confidential data--including #BLS #data, despite legal protections in the Confidential Information Protection & Statistical Efficiency Act--CIPSEA.
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
A judge has ruled that DOGE can access Dept of Labor confidential data--including #BLS #data, despite legal protections in the Confidential Information Protection & Statistical Efficiency Act--CIPSEA.
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
Judge lets DOGE access sensitive records at Labor Department
Despite voicing skepticism about giving DOGE access to sensitive Labor data on millions of Americans, a judge denied unions’ request for a restraining order blocking Elon Musk’s group.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 9, 2025 at 10:46 PM
DOGE allowed to access BLS data...
A judge has ruled that DOGE can access Dept of Labor confidential data--including #BLS #data, despite legal protections in the Confidential Information Protection & Statistical Efficiency Act--CIPSEA.
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
A judge has ruled that DOGE can access Dept of Labor confidential data--including #BLS #data, despite legal protections in the Confidential Information Protection & Statistical Efficiency Act--CIPSEA.
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
Not to mention the lack of CIPSEA safeguards for respondents.
October 7, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Not to mention the lack of CIPSEA safeguards for respondents.
Every single person that thinks their company ~might~ provide economic data to BLS or have participated in a BLS household survey themselves should file suit citing CIPSEA. Doge charter not for "statistical" purposes.
www.bls.gov/bls/confiden...
www.bls.gov/bls/confiden...
Confidentiality Pledge and Laws
Confidentiality Pledge and Laws
www.bls.gov
February 8, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Every single person that thinks their company ~might~ provide economic data to BLS or have participated in a BLS household survey themselves should file suit citing CIPSEA. Doge charter not for "statistical" purposes.
www.bls.gov/bls/confiden...
www.bls.gov/bls/confiden...
Absolutely. The U.S. Confidentiality Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency (CIPSEA) Law, Section 3572.f for starters.
www.bls.gov/bls/cipsea.pdf
www.bls.gov/bls/cipsea.pdf
January 9, 2026 at 9:40 PM
Absolutely. The U.S. Confidentiality Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency (CIPSEA) Law, Section 3572.f for starters.
www.bls.gov/bls/cipsea.pdf
www.bls.gov/bls/cipsea.pdf
Most of what I worked with was CIPSEA (statistical). Let's not forget once this is all over, we can prosecute those who misuse the data. (Don't you think Trump will really pardon everyone for everything? Don't answer that.)
October 13, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Most of what I worked with was CIPSEA (statistical). Let's not forget once this is all over, we can prosecute those who misuse the data. (Don't you think Trump will really pardon everyone for everything? Don't answer that.)
Our economy runs on trust in numbers: OMB Directives 1 & 3, CIPSEA, 5 CFR §1321. What happens when those guardrails bend? Deep dive here. (link) #OfficialStatistics #Democracy table42.net/tag/twof/
The War on Facts – Table 42
Table 42
table42.net
August 13, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Our economy runs on trust in numbers: OMB Directives 1 & 3, CIPSEA, 5 CFR §1321. What happens when those guardrails bend? Deep dive here. (link) #OfficialStatistics #Democracy table42.net/tag/twof/
via @FedRegister Proposed Data Sharing Activity | demography
Proposed Data Sharing Activity
The U.S. Bureau of the Census (Census Bureau) is proposing to share certain business data with the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) within the Department of Commerce. In accordance with the requirements of the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002 (CIPSEA), @uscensusbureau and BEA are providing the opportunity for public comment on this data sharing activity.
www.federalregister.gov
September 22, 2026 at 8:10 PM
via @FedRegister Proposed Data Sharing Activity | demography
The last federal survey I got picked for, I tested the interviewer to see if she knew what CIPSEA was to make sure that it (most likely) was a legit call (i.e., she was well aware of the legal jeopardy one faces by disclosing respondent data).
August 12, 2025 at 12:04 AM
The last federal survey I got picked for, I tested the interviewer to see if she knew what CIPSEA was to make sure that it (most likely) was a legit call (i.e., she was well aware of the legal jeopardy one faces by disclosing respondent data).
What about data that was promised privacy protections, such as CIPSEA, to respondents? Usually there’s a phrase to the regs such as “permitted by law” to cover this? As a Confidentiality Officer for a Federal agency, this is mind blowing. No one will ever give us data again
March 22, 2025 at 5:19 PM
What about data that was promised privacy protections, such as CIPSEA, to respondents? Usually there’s a phrase to the regs such as “permitted by law” to cover this? As a Confidentiality Officer for a Federal agency, this is mind blowing. No one will ever give us data again
BLS data is protected by CIPSEA - and can only be used for statistical purposes. If you even THINK your company provides data, ask your trade associations or company to blast Congress to deny doge access. NOTHING in their "charter" is for statistical purposes only.
February 8, 2025 at 4:04 PM
BLS data is protected by CIPSEA - and can only be used for statistical purposes. If you even THINK your company provides data, ask your trade associations or company to blast Congress to deny doge access. NOTHING in their "charter" is for statistical purposes only.
ZIP code, date of birth, gender. These three facts can identify most Americans. The Agora Research Academy has a new course on CIPSEA and how federal statistical data is protected. Taught by Shelley Burns, formerly of NCES. $1 through Aug 15. edevaluator.org/agora-resear...
Introduction to CIPSEA: Working Confidentially with Federal Statistical Data
CIPSEA — the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act — is the federal law that protects confidential statistical data collected by NCES, the Census Bureau, and the eleven ot...
edevaluator.org
August 6, 2026 at 8:56 PM
ZIP code, date of birth, gender. These three facts can identify most Americans. The Agora Research Academy has a new course on CIPSEA and how federal statistical data is protected. Taught by Shelley Burns, formerly of NCES. $1 through Aug 15. edevaluator.org/agora-resear...
Today is deadline to respond to ICR for NAEP data collection (that includes the removal of CIPSEA protections, given the reductions in staffing at NCES. Please write to OMB and let them know that these data are important and should be protected by CIPSEA: www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PR...
View Information Collection Request (ICR) Package
www.reginfo.gov
June 16, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Today is deadline to respond to ICR for NAEP data collection (that includes the removal of CIPSEA protections, given the reductions in staffing at NCES. Please write to OMB and let them know that these data are important and should be protected by CIPSEA: www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PR...
E.g., this post mentions BJS's Survey of Inmates in Local Jails & the
@deptofdefense.govmirrors.com's Ask U.S. Panel. These collections received public comment and changes should also involve feedback from the public and data users.
#OpenData #EvidenceAct #CIPSEA #Statistics
@deptofdefense.govmirrors.com's Ask U.S. Panel. These collections received public comment and changes should also involve feedback from the public and data users.
#OpenData #EvidenceAct #CIPSEA #Statistics
May 20, 2025 at 9:14 PM
E.g., this post mentions BJS's Survey of Inmates in Local Jails & the
@deptofdefense.govmirrors.com's Ask U.S. Panel. These collections received public comment and changes should also involve feedback from the public and data users.
#OpenData #EvidenceAct #CIPSEA #Statistics
@deptofdefense.govmirrors.com's Ask U.S. Panel. These collections received public comment and changes should also involve feedback from the public and data users.
#OpenData #EvidenceAct #CIPSEA #Statistics
2/3 He'll lead the Center's work on federal data infrastructure, AI-ready data, and the legal frameworks governing public-sector data — at a pivotal moment for CIPSEA implementation and the integrity of the federal statistical system.
June 25, 2026 at 8:34 PM
2/3 He'll lead the Center's work on federal data infrastructure, AI-ready data, and the legal frameworks governing public-sector data — at a pivotal moment for CIPSEA implementation and the integrity of the federal statistical system.
Stat agencies are panicking. The law is no impediment to these guys. A court order won't do it. They have to be arrested. Aside from the clear violations of the Privacy Act, collected statistical data is also covered under "Evidence Act", and its component CIPSEA.
February 5, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Stat agencies are panicking. The law is no impediment to these guys. A court order won't do it. They have to be arrested. Aside from the clear violations of the Privacy Act, collected statistical data is also covered under "Evidence Act", and its component CIPSEA.
3/ The Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2018 (codified at 44 U.S.C. 3561–3583) or CIPSEA 2018 (pronounced sip-c) (among other things) "codifies the fundamental responsibilities of Federal statistical agencies and units to ensure public trust"
February 5, 2025 at 4:18 PM
3/ The Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2018 (codified at 44 U.S.C. 3561–3583) or CIPSEA 2018 (pronounced sip-c) (among other things) "codifies the fundamental responsibilities of Federal statistical agencies and units to ensure public trust"
Today is the deadline to submit comments to the Department of Education about the Nation's Report Card. I'm writing to urge restoration of confidentiality protections provided through CIPSEA that were removed last year because of the Administration gutting the staff responsible for monitoring […]
Original post on sciences.social
sciences.social
February 18, 2026 at 1:54 PM
Today is the deadline to submit comments to the Department of Education about the Nation's Report Card. I'm writing to urge restoration of confidentiality protections provided through CIPSEA that were removed last year because of the Administration gutting the staff responsible for monitoring […]