LWVUS Urged the Preservation of Public Access to Federal Data

LWVUS joined hundreds of organizations to express our concern and strong opposition to the recent incidents in which public data have been selectively removed from federal websites, including the U.S. Census Bureau, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Scientific and Technical Information and many other agencies.

February 11, 2025 

The Honorable John Thune
Majority Leader 
U.S. Senate  
Washington, DC 20510   

The Honorable Charles E. Schumer 
Minority Leader 
U.S. Senate 
Washington, DC 20510 

The Honorable Mike Johnson   
Speaker      
U.S. House of Representatives   
Washington, DC 20515   

The Honorable Hakeem Jeffries 
Minority Leader 
U.S. House of Representatives 
Washington, DC 20515 

Re: Protecting and Preserving Public Access to Federal Data 

Dear Majority Leader Thune, Minority Leader Schumer, Speaker Johnson, and Minority Leader Jeffries, 

We, the undersigned organizations and individuals, write to express our concern and strong opposition to the recent incidents in which public data have been selectively removed from federal websites, including the U.S. Census Bureau, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Scientific and Technical Information and many other agencies. As you know, public data inform key investment and planning decisions in the public, private, non-profit, and academic sectors. Likewise, they are used to monitor the delivery of services that Americans depend on, including health care, education, and essential infrastructure. Removing or curtailing access to these data, even temporarily, erodes the public trust that federal statistical and scientific agencies have earned. These actions also deny the public of scientists and other independent analysts use of federal data so important to public and private sector leaders in their work. Further, their actions have real world consequences, leaving individuals, families, communities, and policymakers alike without access to secure, reliable federal data that they have paid for and expect to use. 

We are also alarmed that this violation of trust through this restriction of access to public data was done without regard for legal and administrative precedent. Federal laws, including the Paperwork Reduction Act, Title 44 of the U.S.C., and the Evidence Based Policymaking Act, are but a few of the major laws governing the collection, dissemination, and protection of federal data. The Administration’s unprecedented action not only violates the spirit of these laws, but also their intent. 

We call on Congress to demand the complete restoration of any federal data that have been removed and to work with the Administration to prevent any future purge or removal of data from federal agency websites and portals. 

Thank you for considering our concerns and taking action to remedy the current situation and prevent future actions that would undermine the integrity of the federal statistical system and their data products. 

Full list of signatories in the attachment