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| 3 Jul 2025 | |
| Written by Kris Rowley | |
| Reports |
The Well Known Problem: Redundant Data Collection Across Agencies and Challenges with to Standardizing and Sharing Data
Federal and State agencies routinely collect overlapping information across critical domains such as health, education, housing, employment, environmental monitoring, financial regulation, and public safety. While these efforts are often driven by individual agency mandates, the result is a patchwork of disconnected systems, duplicative reporting requirements, and significant inefficiencies in data collection and use.
When multiple departments independently gather similar or related data, inconsistencies in definitions, formats, and reporting standards quickly emerge. These misalignments make it difficult to integrate data across agencies or levels of government, limiting the potential for comprehensive analysis, policy coordination, and ultimately improving outcomes for citizens. The fragmentation also increases administrative burden on both government staff and the individuals or organizations required to report information multiple times in slightly different ways.
While data standards often take center stage in policy discussions, shaping how data is collected, shared, and reported—data management and governance have traditionally remained behind the scenes, viewed as back-office functions. This disconnect can lead to gaps between policy intent and practical implementation, as the foundational work of ensuring data quality, integrity, and stewardship is frequently undervalued or overlooked. Bridging this divide is essential to ensure that data-driven policies are not only well-designed but also effectively executed.
