The Next Chapter: Government Data Strategy Under Trump 2.0

At a recent GovExec event on "Cloud Technology and Federal Modernization – Shaping the Future Under New Leadership," I joined Edward Graham from Nextgov/FCW to discuss how government data initiatives are navigating the current political transition. Despite concerns about government capacity, regulatory shifts, energy policy changes, and potential market consolidation, I'm optimistic.

The Foundation That Endures

Here's something most people don't know: the OPEN Government Data Act passed the Senate unanimously in 2018 and was signed into law by President Trump in 2019. This landmark legislation established Chief Data Officers across federal agencies and created a federal data strategy designed to run through 2029—meaning it's still our operational framework today.Earlier this year the White House issued new, clear, and forward-looking guidance for prioritizing implementation. 

Collectively these efforts provide an increasingly comprehensive approach to data governance that recognizes a fundamental truth: at the heart of every technology discussion—whether AI, cloud migration, or cybersecurity—is data.

Continuity Across Administrations

What's particularly encouraging is the remarkable consistency in data and AI policies across Trump 1.0, the Biden administration, and now Trump 2.0. All three have emphasized the importance of:

• Chief Data Officers and Chief AI Officers in federal agencies
• Cloud modernization strategies (building on the original CloudSmart framework)
• Recognition that you can't have effective, useful AI without solid data governance and access to high-quality information

Some agencies have even dual-hatted their AI officers as Chief Data Officers, acknowledging the intrinsic connection between these roles.

Real Challenges, Real Solutions

The NextGov event specifically addressed concerns about how regulatory shifts, energy policy changes, and tariffs might drive market consolidation and raise costs for cloud services. These are legitimate concerns that federal agencies and the private sector must navigate.

Being realistic about the challenges: personnel turnover creates knowledge gaps. Multiple competing strategies need coordination. Resource constraints are real—especially as agencies face heightened scrutiny about efficiency and value in 2025.

Yet after decades in the field, I’ve learned that constraints often drive the most meaningful innovations. When we are forced to demonstrate clear value propositions, we can focus on what actually matters most.

The Energy Reality

At the GovExec event, we explored how these policy shifts could impact AI and data center advancements. The elephant in the room is energy—AI and data centers require massive power, and our infrastructure isn't ready for projected demand. I see this firsthand in my parents' small Missouri town, where community debates that once centered on gas-fired power plants now focus on noise and footprints of data centers.

We need honest conversations with affected communities about these trade-offs. The government historically struggles with meaningful stakeholder engagement, but this issue is too important for Federal Register notices and hoping someone responds. In recent years the Data Foundation doubled down on the need and strategies for engagement under a value that we call “radical collaboration.” One of our key resources is now a toolkit for the public sector to improve engagement strategies on data-related topics. 

The Path Forward

In the years ahead there is a clear path for next steps, including to continue building on past momentum and enabling progress under Trump 2.0. Here are some suggestions:

1. Focus relentlessly on the value proposition. Every data initiative should clearly answer: How does this improve agency decision-making or benefit the American people?
2. We need better collaboration between Chief Data Officers, CIOs, and cybersecurity officers. These positions should be working together to strengthen value and efficiency. 
3. We need to prioritize data quality over quantity. Just because we can collect something doesn’t mean the government needs to; ensuring there are plans for use at the outset helps clarify data value. 
4. We need to tell better stories about why data matters. In 2025, there are rapidly emerging organizational efforts to better tell data stories and this is long overdue. 

The foundation is solid. The Federal Data Strategy through 2029 gives the country an ongoing roadmap. The challenge now is execution in a resource-constrained environment.

We have the tools, a framework, and increasingly, the recognition that data governance isn't just nice-to-have—it's mission-critical for organizations in the public sector.

The question isn't whether we'll continue advancing government data capabilities. It's how quickly we can demonstrate their value to the American people and leaders across Congress and the Executive Branch.

NICK HART, PH.D. is President and CEO of the Data Foundation.