Articles

19Feb

Congress Urges Restoration of Federal Data Access

Congress is pressing the White House “to immediately restore public access to federal datasets and data-driven tools,” including Census Bureau data, as requested by the Insights Association and other allied groups.

On February 12, 2025, 79 Members of Congress, led by Reps. Don Beyer (D-VA-08), Kathy Castor (D-FL-14), Scott Peters (D-CA-50), and Paul Tonko (D-NY-20), wrote to new OMB Director Russ Vought about the disappearance and inaccessibility of various federal datasets over the prior few weeks, which they said “are essential to government accountability, public and private sector research, and the work of businesses and non-profits. Those datasets have been created pursuant to Congressional direction and funded by American taxpayers. We therefore expect that data to remain publicly available, both out of duty to American taxpayers and out of economic common sense.”

The letter went on to ask:

“What datasets and data-driven tools has the Administration removed from public-facing websites?”
“Which, if any, does the Administration plan to restore public access to? Please provide a specific plan and timeline for restoring that access. a. Of those restored or planned to be restored, please identify which have had research parameters changed or data modified to comply with recent executive orders. b. Of those restored or planned to be restored, has any metadata or functionality that researchers depend on to use the data been modified or eliminated?”
“Which, if any, does the Administration not plan to restore public access to? a. If any, please provide written explanations, specific to each dataset and data-driven tool, for why American taxpayers will be denied access going forward. b. Additionally, please attach copies of all datasets to which American taxpayers will be denied access going forward.”

The Congressmen asked for answers by February 19.

About the Author

Howard Fienberg

Based in Washington, DC, Howard is the Insights Association's lobbyist for the marketing research and data analytics industry, focusing primarily on consumer privacy and data security, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), tort reform, and the funding and integrity of the decennial Census and the American Community Survey (ACS). Howard has more than two decades of public policy experience. Before the Insights Association, he worked in Congress as senior legislative staffer for then-Representatives Christopher Cox (CA-48) and Cliff Stearns (FL-06). He also served more than four years with a science policy think tank, working to improve the understanding of scientific and social research and methodology among journalists and policymakers. Howard is also co-director of The Census Project, a 900+ member coalition in support of a fair and accurate Census and ACS. He has also served previously on the Board of Directors for the National Institute for Lobbying and Ethics and and the Association of Government Relations Professionals. Howard has an MA International Relations from the University of Essex in England and a BA Honors Political Studies from Trent University in Canada, and has obtained the Certified Association Executive (CAE), Professional Lobbying Certificate (PLC) and the Public Policy Certificate (PPC). When not running advocacy for the Insights Association, Howard enjoys hockey, NFL football, sci-fi and horror movies, playing with his dog, and spending time with family and friends.