Policy Watch: Implications of Federal Actions on Health Data

Since the presidential inauguration, the administration has undertaken numerous actions targeting federal data. Two sources that are critical to understanding the health of our communities, the US Census Bureau and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, have been affected. To date, the administration has tried to: prevent the distribution of data, remove access to current and historic datasets, reduce funding for researchers, interrupt ongoing studies, and eliminate efforts that reference Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in any manner. The implications of these actions are wide-ranging and directly impact the data as well as the structures in which the data are maintained.

In late January datasets were temporarily removed from the public view and some, such as elements of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, were manipulated or restricted to reflect the social views of the current administration. While researchers and others were successful in downloading and storing the original datasets, the lack of a reliable centralized database adds confusion and sows further distrust and political division across the country. Additionally, efforts to freeze and restrict federal funding – even if temporarily – threatens the capacity of state and local departments, educational institutions, and think tanks, the entities that maintain and analyze broad datasets. 

These actions send a message to the broader public about the priorities of the administration. They also raise questions about the future ability to compare data sets and whether we will have the data necessary to identify trends year over year. Many reports available in the public health and human service sectors are informed by Census estimates, whether directly or indirectly through extrapolation or proprietary analysis; therefore, future research, policy-making, and program planning are also at stake. Fortunately, much of the secondary health data that the foundation makes available are still accessible and unchanged. Foundation staff will continue to monitor for additional changes and provide our analysis to ensure transparency.