America's data infrastructure stands at a key inflection point. The convergence of artificial intelligence capabilities, fiscal pressures, and evolving threats demands that we accelerate investments in the data systems that power economic competitiveness, government efficiency, and public trust.

The Data Foundation's 2026 policy agenda focuses on seven interconnected priorities that demonstrate how open data, evidence-informed decision-making, and systematic data protection deliver measurable value for American businesses, policymakers, and the public.

Our approach recognizes that past implementation timelines are inadequate for the AI era. Rather than waiting decades for incremental progress, we're advancing practical solutions that prove government data infrastructure can deliver immediate returns while building long-term resilience.

These seven priorities work together: evidence-based efficiency demonstrates immediate ROI, AI competitiveness creates strategic urgency, and critical data protection provides systematic prioritization—all enabled by financial transparency, open data infrastructure, modern privacy frameworks, and statistical independence.

Download our 2026 Advocacy and Policy Agenda