The Demolition of American Data Infrastructure

ObjectivesEfforts to shrink the U.S. Government have decimated the existing American data infrastructure. By tracking the impact of executive orders and administration policies on data integrity, supply, and demand, we show outcomes for state and local governments, non-profit and social sector organizations, and the private sector. MethodsSoon after the inauguration, government agencies had to remove data and findings about topics including diversity, equity and inclusion; sexual orientation and gender identity; and climate change. This involved dataset delisting and funding restrictions in affected programs. Data specialists began data rescue efforts to preserve copies of existing data sources. Additional data experts started data monitoring efforts to spot changes and deletions. At time same time, cuts to federal staffing and budgets were monitored to identify disruptions to linked and modeled data measures essential for the functioning of the economy and society. ResultsA dedicated community emerged in February 2025 including academic and private sector data users, archivists and librarians, and former data producers. They track what is gone, what is changing, how critical dat