Newsletter Archive
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Why We Need a New Tool to Track Changes to Federal Data
June 16, 2025by Beth JaroszRead MoreLate last year I, along with a group of talented colleagues, was helping to organize a National Academies workshop on communicating the quality of federal data. The issue, at first glance, seems like it should be simple: If it’s a survey, present margins of error on the estimates. If it’s administrative data, provide metadata. Then call it a day.
However, as many readers will understand, data quality is much more complicated and nuanced than that. Quality is a huge umbrella under which sample size, universe, coverage, timeliness, representativeness, and many other dimensions fall. In short, it’s the series of questions any good data scientist will ask themself when trying to pick the right dataset to answer a question:
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Uncovering Changes to Federal Data: 05/31/2025 — 06/06/2025 ICR Roundup
June 10, 2025by Melanie KleinRead MoreSince January 20, 2025, new Presidential Actions, such as Executive Orders and Proclamations, have required federal agencies to subtly adjust what information they gather and how they ask for it. This is especially true when it comes to language about gender and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Federal data collections leave a digital trail on RegInfo.gov as they evolve, but some footprints are easier to spot than others.
Between May 31 and June 6, 2025, 66 Information Collection Requests (ICRs) were submitted. Of those, a total of 25 ICRs were submitted specifically in response to Presidential Actions.
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Uncovering Changes to Federal Data: 05/24/2025 — 05/30/2025 ICR Roundup
June 03, 2025by Melanie KleinRead MoreSince January 20, 2025, new Presidential Actions, such as Executive Orders and Proclamations, have required federal agencies to subtly adjust what information they gather and how they ask for it. This is especially true when it comes to language about gender and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Federal data collections leave a digital trail on RegInfo.gov as they evolve, but some footprints are easier to spot than others.
Between May 24 and May 30, 2025, 101 Information Collection Requests (ICRs) were submitted. Of those, 32 ICRs were submitted specifically in response to Presidential Actions (bringing the May total to 102).
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Reading Between the Forms: How Executive Orders are Quietly Reshaping Federal Data
June 02, 2025by Melanie KleinRead MoreFederal data collections leave a digital trail as they evolve, but some footprints are easier to spot than others. Since January 20, 2025, new Executive Orders have required federal agencies to subtly adjust what information they gather and how they ask for it, especially when it comes to language about gender and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
By digging into RegInfo.gov, we found that 69 information collection requests have been filed between May 1 and May 23, 2025, for updates in response to these directives. Keep reading for insights into how this review process works and which data collections are being quietly rewritten to align with new policy priorities.
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Intro to the Information Collection Request (ICR)
May 29, 2025by Melanie KleinRead MoreAn Information Collection Request (ICR) is a federal agency’s request for approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to collect information from the public. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), agencies must justify why the information is needed and how it will be used.
Federal agencies are required to submit an ICR whenever they create, renew, modify, or discontinue an information collection. Each ICR includes a description of the collection, supporting materials and documentation (such as forms, surveys, or scripts), and proof that the agency has met the requirements of the PRA.
The ICR is submitted to the The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) within OMB for review and approval. OIRA grants approval for a maximum of three years, after which the collection must be renewed through a new ICR submission.
ICRs are publicly available on RegInfo.gov, and additional guidance can be found in the FAQs.ICRs play a vital role in ensuring transparency and accountability in federal data collection. When federal agencies collect information from 10 or more "persons" (which includes individuals, businesses, and state, local, and tribal governments), they must submit an ICR to ensure that it fulfills their statutory missions, avoids unnecessary or duplicative requests, and minimizes burden on the American public. Additionally, Federal Register Notices (FRNs) and the opportunity for public comments provide a formal way for the public to be informed of proposed ICRs and participate in the process.