Newsletter Archive
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Introducing the Data Checkup: A Framework for Assessing the Health of Federal Datasets
February 04, 2026by Melanie Klein, Beth Jarosz, and Chris DickRead MoreThe dataindex.us team is excited to launch the Data Checkup – a comprehensive framework for assessing the health of federal data collections, highlighting key dimensions of risk and presenting a clear status of data well-being.
When we started dataindex.us, one of our earliest tools was a URL tracker: a simple way to monitor whether a webpage or data download link was up or down. In early 2025, that kind of monitoring became urgent as thousands of federal webpages and datasets went dark.
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Take Action! Census of Agriculture and More
February 02, 2026by Meghan MauryRead MoreCensus of the Week: 2027 Census of Agriculture. The Census of Agriculture is the primary source of statistics concerning the nation's agricultural industry. These data are used by Congress when developing or changing farm programs; many national and state programs are designed or allocated based on census data (e.g., soil conservation projects, funds for cooperative extension programs, and research funding); and private industry uses the data to provide more effective production and distribution systems for the agricultural community.
Comments due March 16.Every time the government makes a change to a survey or a form — or introduces a new survey or form — you have the right to weigh in on that decision. The Take Action! newsletter highlights surveys or forms the government is changing, renewing, or introducing. Click the links to tell the government what you think about the changes they are making.
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Quick Takes: The Rise of the Data Sharing Agreement
January 27, 2026by Meghan MauryRead MoreThe Privacy Act of 1974 was designed to give people at least some control over how the federal government uses and shares their personal data. Under the law, agencies must notify the public when they plan to use personal information in new ways – including when they intend to share it with another agency – and give the public an opportunity to weigh in.
At dataindex.us, we track these data-sharing notices on our Take Action page. Recently, a pattern has emerged that you might miss if you’re only looking at one notice at a time.
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Take Action! ASTP/ONC Deregulatory Actions and More
January 26, 2026by Meghan MauryRead MoreProposed Rule of the Week: Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability: ASTP/ONC Deregulatory Actions To Unleash Prosperity. This proposed rule aims to "remove duplicative and unnecessary requirements of the ONC Health IT Certification Program." To achieve this goal, HHS is removing more than half of its health IT certification criteria, changing a half dozen of the remaining criteria, and maintaining the remaining 19 criteria as is. The patient demographics criteria are being revised to remove requirements to collect sexual orientation, gender identity, name to use, and pronouns. HHS is also removing criteria related to restrictions on data re-disclosure, care plans, transparency and risk-management requirements, privacy and security, and accessibility-centered design.
Comments due February 27.Every time the government makes a change to a survey or a form — or introduces a new survey or form — you have the right to weigh in on that decision. The Take Action! newsletter highlights surveys or forms the government is changing, renewing, or introducing. Click the links to tell the government what you think about the changes they are making.
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Take Action! Medical Expenditure Panel Survey and More
January 21, 2026by Meghan MauryRead MoreSurvey of the Week: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey — Household Component. MEPS collects data on the specific health services that Americans use, how frequently they use them, the cost of these services and how they are paid for, as well as data on the cost, scope, and breadth of health insurance held by and available to U.S. workers. HHS is making a number of changes to the MEPS, including removing questions on birth control, gender, aspirin use, and counseling; adding questions about use of sleep medication, trouble getting to sleep, screen time, use of wearable devices, self-assessed diet quality, fruit and vegetable consumption, meals eaten away from home, former smoking, and weight loss attempts; and making changes to a number of other questions.
Comments due March 2.Every time the government makes a change to a survey or a form — or introduces a new survey or form — you have the right to weigh in on that decision. The Take Action! newsletter highlights surveys or forms the government is changing, renewing, or introducing. Click the links to tell the government what you think about the changes they are making.