Government statistical data faces potential peril, sparking a frenzy among data enthusiasts to intervene and secure crucial information.
In response to concerns about data manipulation and removal from U.S. government websites during President Trump's second term, various coalitions and projects have mobilized to safeguard public government data resources. These initiatives aim to anticipate risks posed by the administration's reported efforts to sideline scientific integrity and transparency.
Key Preservation Initiatives
One of the key preservation initiatives is the Data Rescue Project. This coordinated effort, involving organizations such as IASSIST, RDAP, and the Data Curation Network, acts as a clearinghouse to support data gathering, curation, cleaning, cataloging, and sustained access to at-risk public U.S. government data. They recently launched a centralized, searchable portal to integrate datasets from multiple rescue efforts, enhancing discoverability and preservation [2].
DataLumos, operated by ICPSR, serves as an archive committed to safekeeping and disseminating U.S. government and social science data, accepting deposits and recommendations for important public data resources for long-term preservation [2].
The American Statistical Association (ASA) and George Mason University (GMU) have projects monitoring the health of federal statistical agencies, aiming to assess and share updates on impacts from rapid federal changes that threaten the quality and continuity of national data assets [2].
Documented Attacks on Science and Federal Data Integrity
These efforts emerge amid documented extensive attacks on science and federal data integrity by the Trump administration during his second term. Between January and June 2025 alone, there were at least 402 confirmed attacks on science by the administration, indicating intensified suppression and alteration of scientific data and truth in government decision-making [1].
Although President Trump signed executive orders aiming to control ideological influences such as DEI in federal AI systems, these measures have been controversial and regarded by critics as undermining science and neutrality in government data and processes [3][5].
Legal Challenges
Legal challenges are also ongoing against various Trump administration actions that affect data transparency and integrity, tracked by organizations like Just Security [4].
In summary, outside groups have mounted significant coordinated initiatives to preserve U.S. government data threatened by manipulations and removals during Trump's second term, utilizing archiving projects, rescue operations, monitoring programs, and legal advocacy to safeguard the integrity and accessibility of federal scientific and statistical data resources [2][1][4]. The goal of these efforts is to ensure the availability of data for future use, believing that democracy suffers without reliable data.
- The Data Rescue Project, a collaborative effort, acts as a hub for gathering, curating, cleaning, cataloging, and maintaining access to at-risk public U.S. government data.
- ICPSR operates DataLumos, an archive focused on safeguarding and disseminating U.S. government and social science data for long-term preservation.
- The American Statistical Association (ASA) and George Mason University (GMU) have projects monitoring the health of federal statistical agencies to assess and share updates on impacts from rapid federal changes on data quality and continuity.
- During President Trump's second term, there were at least 402 documented attacks on science and federal data integrity by the administration, indicative of intensified suppression and alteration of scientific data and truth in government decision-making.
- Legal challenges against various Trump administration actions affecting data transparency and integrity are ongoing, with organizations like Just Security tracking these cases.
- Along with these preservation initiatives, policy-and-legislation and general-news outlets have reported extensively on administration policies related to climate change, environmental-science, business, Los Angeles, California, and infrastructure.
- Technology has played a significant role in these efforts, with data-and-cloud-computing systems being utilized to store, manage, and disseminate the rescued data.
- While President Trump signed executive orders aiming to control ideological influences in federal AI systems, these measures have been met with controversy and criticism, being perceived as undermining science and neutrality in government data and processes.
- These outside initiatives aim to ensure the availability of data for future use, believing that democracy and the growth of environmental-science, climate change, and science as a whole rely on the integrity and accessibility of federal data resources.
