The directive further creates an interagency committee on race and ethnicity statistical standards. Image: Arthimedes/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffOMB has revised policies on federal agency collection of data on race and ethnicity with a goal of making that data more consistent and comparable across agencies, concluding a notice and comment process that started in 2022.
Changes to “Directive 15” include using one combined question for race and ethnicity and encouraging respondents to select as many options as apply to how they identify; adding Middle Eastern or North African as a new minimum category; and requiring the collection of additional detail beyond the minimum required race and ethnicity categories for most situations.
“These revisions will enhance our ability to compare information and data across federal agencies, and also to understand how well federal programs serve a diverse America,” says an OMB summary.
“The standards instruct federal agencies to begin updating their surveys and administrative forms as quickly as possible, submit an Agency Action Plan for complete compliance within 18 months – which will be publicly available, and finish bringing all data collections and programs into compliance with the updated standards within five years,” it says.
The directive further creates an interagency committee on race and ethnicity statistical standards, under the office of the U.S. chief statistician, that will “maintain and carry out a government-wide research agenda and undertake regular reviews” of evolving concepts of ethnic and racial identities and the government’s data needs.
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