Improper payments affect over $150 billion per year in federal spending -- that's too much. Treasury's Do Not Pay system was designed to help address this, but only 4% of programs are using it. Today, the @Data_Foundation is endorsing the Pre-Payment Fraud Prevention and Treasury Data Access Act ahead of tomorrow's markup in the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. The bill includes a strong privacy framework. It preserves independent verification before any adverse action, maintains confidentiality obligations, establishes congressional oversight and public reporting, and streamlines administrative processes — all without eliminating the protections that matter. Privacy and program effectiveness aren't at odds. They reinforce each other. This bill removes targeted administrative barriers while preserving core safeguards.  We're urging the Committee to advance this bill in its mark-up on April 29th. --> datafoundation.org/news/pres…

Chronic absenteeism requires a smarter way to coordinate data across the K-12 ecosystem. On 4/28, Kate Cochran joins @Data_Foundation to discuss data frameworks and public-private partnerships to support student success. Register: tinyurl.com/4z764ua9 #EdTech #K12

This week, key House leaders introduced the SECURE Data Act and GUARD Financial Data Act, the most significant federal privacy effort in years. As someone who has worked on federal data policy for decades, I welcome this step and the historic coordination between the House Committee on Energy and Commerce & U.S. House Committee on Financial Services. But we also have work to do. Meaningful privacy protection requires more than rights on paper, it requires accountability mechanisms that make those rights enforceable in practice. That means data protection impact assessments, proportionate safeguards against reidentification risks, and careful attention to preemption. Our most durable national privacy and transparency laws — the Privacy Act, the Evidence Act, OPEN Government Data Act, CIPSEA — were all built on bipartisan consensus. That's the standard this effort should meet. My full statement on behalf of the @data_foundation --> datafoundation.org/news/pres… #privacy #transparency

The federal government reported more than $160 billion in improper payments last year. Over $45 billion of that traces back to failures in death, identity, and marital status verification -- not fraud, but a data infrastructure problem. Today the @data_foundation is releasing "Program Integrity Through Data Infrastructure," a flagship product of our year-long Fiscal Intelligence Initiative, supported by the The Peter G. Peterson Foundation. The report lays out policy options for shifting the government away from a pay-and-chase model toward preventative screening -- with real scorable savings potential for the current budget moment. 📰 Press release announcing the full report with ten ranked policy options -- datafoundation.org/news/pres… 📕 Full report with ten ranked options that span three categories: data infrastructure enhancements, verification system modernization, and coordination and innovation -- datafoundation.org/news/repo… 📜 Policy brief with top five options -- datafoundation.org/news/repo…

🎯 Shape AI-driven scientific discovery Join our virtual forum April 28 on the Genesis Mission Executive Order—examining university-federal research collaborations, workforce pathways, and data governance frameworks. Fast-paced format. Speaking slots open. Submit: buff.ly/KWiyo2C #GenesisMission #HigherEd

Want to know more about the TSA workforce ? According to federal open data -- they look a lot like the American working class: linkedin.com/posts/nickrhart…

Looking for a way to take action on the OPRE restructuring -- join our sign-on letter here: datafoundation.org/news/advo…

"The decision to gut OPRE is a devastating blow to children, families, and communities across America." -- Joint statement from the Data Foundation and Results for American about decision to reduce office that supports scaling what works for child welfare, child support, head start, foster care and more. "Eliminating the ability to study what works does not make the government more efficient—it makes the government blind. Without evidence, policymakers cannot distinguish between programs that help families and programs that fail them." We call on Secretary Kennedy and the Administration to reconsider this decision-- Full statement here: datafoundation.org/news/pres…

ACF’s Office of Planning, Research & Evaluation helps us understand what works – and what doesn’t – to support children & families. Gutting @OPRE_ACF would set back efforts to wisely invest taxpayer dollars. 🔗Read our statement w/ the @data_foundation: bit.ly/3On7jDJ

The Data Foundation and @Results4America have learned that HHS has decided to drastically restructure and effectively dismantle the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) at the Administration for Children and Families.

Don't Let Government Hoard Boardwalk: Why Open Data Needs Market Signals hubs.li/Q040cvLq0 Written by @nickrhart of @data_foundation

In a replay from 2017, Rep. Virginia Foxx Foxx (R) says: "Do any of you know about the Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking? This has gotta be one of the best things that's been done in the federal government in 50 years." youtube.com/watch?v=SbazmJzo…

Here's a helpful reminder--in musical form--that nominations are open now through January 31 for the People's Data 100, an initiative to identify the national datasets providing the greatest value to Americans. youtu.be/_9DoZaBAXjQ?si=VB7f… via @YouTube

Great to see data infrastructure featured prominently in the new Trump Administration President's Management Agenda priorities announced today. The commitments to eliminate data silos, reduce duplication, and leverage AI for efficiency reflect principles we've worked on for years. The tension worth watching: The PMA demands accountability and results—but measuring those results requires protecting the very data systems that enable verification. datafoundation.org/news/pres…

The Financial Data Transparency Act isn't just about compliance. It's building the data foundation for future AI systems. Learn how Standard Business Reporting principles can turn regulatory burden into strategic advantage: buff.ly/WXoYs0m @DFINSolutions @dangelo_mpd

Check out my latest article: Building America's National Data Ecosystem: Three Essential Federal Roles (A Thanksgiving Reflection) linkedin.com/pulse/building-… via @LinkedIn

"America's #AI leadership depends not just on having the most data, but on having the right data, used responsibly, with clear purpose and strong governance." forbes.com/councils/forbeste… @ForbesTechCncl

Digital Hygiene Habits That Strengthen Business And Personal Security hubs.li/Q03TFgm50 from @icerideshare @omadaidentity @nickrhart @dogtownmedia @cypherpunkx @Wissen_Infotech @benjamin1claeys @thedougshannon and more

📢 Federal agencies publish evidence plans, evaluation reports, and data governance guidance across dozens of websites. There's no centralized place to find it all. We're changing that with the Evidence Act Hub. Join our webinar to learn more: buff.ly/Ohh8IfJ