Data Foundation Releases Sixth ‘Evidence Capacity Pulse Report’

WASHINGTON, D.C. | August 28, 2025 — Today, the Data Foundation published the sixth "Evidence Capacity Pulse Report," continuing to document substantial changes affecting America's data and evaluation infrastructure. The latest report, compiled in part through the Data Foundation's SAFE-Track (Secure Anonymous Federal Evidence, Data and Analysis Tracking) portal, identified several major developments from previous monthly reports impacting government and industry capacity for data collection, analysis, and evaluation activities.

"August's developments illustrate the complex nature of federal data infrastructure transitions," said Sara Stefanik, Director of the Data Foundation’s Center for Evidence Capacity. "While we're seeing promising advances in AI capabilities and adherence to the Evidence Act, continued leadership transitions and programmatic capacity constraints highlight ongoing challenges. The mixed picture of data access — with some systems being restored while others face operational difficulties — underscores the need for sustained attention to maintaining America's evidence infrastructure during this period of organizational change."

The August 2025 Evidence Capacity Pulse Report identifies several new and continued trends:

• Public access mixed for federal record systems: OMB restored its apportionments database following a court order, while RegInfo.gov went offline in mid-August due to capacity constraints and remains only partially functional.
• Leadership changes continue across key data positions: President Trump nominated E.J. Antoni to replace the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner, while numerous Chief Data Officer and Evaluation Officer posts continue to undergo leadership transitions, with a significant number remaining vacant or filled by acting officials across multiple agencies.
• Enhanced oversight processes established for federal grants: Executive Order 14332 introduced new review requirements for discretionary grants, requiring senior appointee approval and subject matter expert review, with potential impacts on research and evaluation activities.
• Federal artificial intelligence capabilities expand: GSA added major AI tools including Claude, Gemini, and ChatGPT to government purchasing schedules and launched USAi.gov for agencies to compare AI models, while NSF partnered with NVIDIA and the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence to develop open-access scientific language models.
• Data collection requirements expanded for higher education: A new White House memorandum directed enhanced Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) data reporting in order to increase collections related to college admissions practices, with new survey components proposed for implementation.
• Evidence Act compliance progresses: Federal agencies continue releasing open data plans and annual evaluation plans required by the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act.

With Congress returning from August recess, the Data Foundation anticipates greater insights into executive and congressional approaches. The Data Foundation will continue to work with stakeholders across the political spectrum to advance open data and evidence-informed decision-making as part of our commitment to radical collaboration. We invite organizations and individuals to contribute to this ongoing analysis through our SAFE-Track platform, which provides secure and anonymous reporting of evidence ecosystem impacts. 

The full report is available at: https://datafoundation.org/news/reports/682/682-August-28-2025-Tracking-Changes-in-Americas-Data-and-Evaluation-Infrastructure

About the Data Foundation

The Data Foundation is a Washington, DC-based, non-profit, non-partisan organization. It is a trusted authority on the use of open, accessible data to fuel a more efficient, effective, and accountable government; spark innovation; and provide insights to the country's most pressing challenges. It conducts research, facilitates collaborative thought leadership, and promotes advocacy programs that advance practical policies for the creation and use of accessible, trustworthy data and evidence. The Data Foundation's Center for Evidence Capacity works to strengthen evidence-building functions across government through research, education, and technical assistance to support effective implementation of laws like the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act. The Data Foundation is recognized by Candid Guidestar with the Platinum Seal of Transparency and by Charity Navigator as a 4-Star non-profit. To learn more, visit www.datafoundation.org. (LEI: 254900I43CTC59RFW495)

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