Since the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act (Evidence Act) was enacted in 2019, the Data Foundation has hosted govDATAx to convene interactive discussions and develop strategies for advancing data-driven innovation across government. The Data Foundation’s one-day govDATAx 2024 Summit brought together a diverse group of leaders from across the data and evidence communities to reflect on the achievements of the past five years and collectively chart a vision for the years to come.
This year’s participants embodied one of our organization’s core values — radical collaboration — as they explored current best practices and shared forward-looking, innovative ideas for how data and evidence can be harnessed to drive important outcomes for the American people.
A valuable and unique feature of govDATAx 2024 was robust participation from attendees, who shared their visions for the future of data and evidence in ideation sessions following several panels. Participants’ perspectives were captured and summarized under three broad themes of how to shape the government’s uses and management of data:
Theme 1: Unifying the Data Ecosystem by…
- Integrating data environments and master data management systems
- Chief Data Officers Council serving as a potential catalyst for cross-agency data harmonization
- Supporting National Secure Data Service development and implementation
- Enhancing data literacy throughout government
Theme 2: Protecting Data Integrity in AI Era through…
- Developing evidence-based interventions for detecting false information
- Implementing stronger data standards across operational domains
- Enhancing methods for tracking data provenance
- Developing strategies to verify information authenticity amid increasing AI-generated content
Theme 3: Strengthening Evidence Act Implementation by…
- Investing in qualified personnel for evaluation, statistical, and chief data officer positions
- Issuing the implementation guidance for Title II of the Evidence Act, focusing on standardized, machine-readable data formats
- Developing and publishing comprehensive agency data inventories
From technical solutions to policy frameworks, the participants at govDATAx 2024 outlined an expansive and comprehensive vision of the work to be done in strengthening data governance and thereby public trust in government.
govDATAx 2024 featured several engaging sessions with leaders from across the community that highlighted the breadth and depth of data's role in government:
- Telling Government's Data Story: Two leading federal technology journalists — Jory Heckman and Madison Adler — kicked off the day with an insightful fireside chat exploring how data connects to storytelling and public understanding, delving into common pitfalls they have observed when agencies work to communicate their findings to the public and media, and sharing perspectives about enabling better narrative and storytelling in the field moving forward.
- Innovating Governance Together: Leaders from the Data Foundation, the Department of Commerce, and Data Coalition member GovNavigators, engaged in a discussion about how federal data practices have evolved over time, and what gaps exist between current data capabilities and agency needs. The panelists highlighted significant work being done in the field, including the Social Security Administration's SecurityStat tool and a partnership between Data Coalition member USAFacts and University of California Berkeley to enhance data skills in Congress. The session then switched from listening mode to an interactive audience ideation time on actionable strategies for the future of data and evidence governance.
- AI-Ready Government: Representing agencies at the forefront of artificial intelligence (AI) use across programs, Victoria Houed, Director of AI Policy and Strategy to the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs at the U.S. Department of Commerce; and Paula Osborn, Deputy Chief Data and AI Officer at the U.S. Department of State; spoke with Patrick McGarry, General Manager at Data Coalition member data.world. During their panel, the three examined how federal agencies can effectively implement AI while ensuring proper standards, including by operationalizing frameworks like the Data Foundation’s AI-Ready Policy Tool. The panelists discussed the delicate balance needed between innovation and oversight, particularly when addressing data interoperability, ethical considerations, and workforce development across both defense and civilian agencies.
- Evolution of the Evidence Ecosystem: Loren DeJonge Schulman, Associate Director for Performance and Personnel Management at the White House Office of Management & Budget, delivered an enthusiastic keynote address, reflecting on four years of progress in building a stronger evidence ecosystem and improved citizen experiences and provided encouragement for continuing the work in the years ahead.
- Data and Evidence Dialogue: Leaders including an evaluation officer, deputy chief data officer, and executive director of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee came together to assess the impact of the Evidence Act since its implementation. The discussion emphasized the growing importance of cross-agency collaboration and the need to prepare the federal workforce for future data challenges. Speakers shared insights on how technological advancements, particularly AI, are reshaping data collection and analysis across agencies.
- Beyond Party Lines: With an eye towards the future, the day concluded with a conversation between two long-time leaders in the data community who described the importance of maintaining bipartisan support for data and evidence initiatives in the years ahead, including suggestions about how to do it based off their experiences as Senate and House Democrat and Republican staff, respectively.
The audience insights and expert panel discussions reflected the vibrant ecosystem of ideas and innovation within the data governance community. The Data Foundation continues to play a vital role in supporting these broad communities, breaking down silos, and fostering collaboration. While significant progress has been made in the past five years, the Summit made clear that there is still much work ahead in our journey toward a more data-driven future for American policymaking.
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For the full list of speakers and panels, please see the event agenda.
