Less than a month into the new administration, we have seen a flurry of headlines about datasets being purged all over the federal government — and in programs outside the federal government that receive money from federal agencies.

Here are just a few recent stories:

"What we all lose in Trump and Musk's attack on government data" (Axios, February 7, 2025)

"Thousands of U.S. Government Web Pages Have Been Taken Down Since Friday" (NY Times, February 2, 2025)

"Archivists Work to Identify and Save the Thousands of Datasets Disappearing From Data.gov" (404 Media, January 30, 2025)

"CDC Data Are Disappearing" (The Atlantic, January 31, 2025)

This episode is an encore presentation of a conversation I had last summer with Connie Citro, an investigator on the American Statistical Association's paper, "The Nation's Data at Risk". We discussed the need for government-collected data, the threats facing (and now in full view of) the nation's statistical agencies, and ways you can support the agencies in their work.

Here are a few resources if you want to gain access to archived data, or want to support organizations that are acting to defend the agencies and preserve their — our — data.

• The American Statistical Association
• The Data Rescue Project
• The Census Project
• Friends of the Bureau of Labor Statistics
• The CDC Foundation 

Our Guest 

Connie Citro is a distinguished expert in federal statistics with over four decades of experience in the field. She served for many years as the director of the Committee on National Statistics at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, where she now continues as a senior scholar. Throughout her career, Citro has been involved in numerous studies on critical statistical issues, including decennial census methodologies, poverty measurement, and the American Community Survey. Her extensive knowledge and experience make her a leading voice in discussions about the health and future of the U.S. federal statistical system.  

Your Host 

Farrah Bostic is the founder and Head of Research & Strategy at The Difference Engine, a strategic insights consultancy. With over 20 years of experience turning audience insights into effective strategies for B2B and B2C companies, Farrah helps business leaders make big decisions across various industries. Learn more at thedifferenceengine.co and connect with Farrah on LinkedIn. 

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