Archive · 26 Jul 2025
Data Nerds Unite to Save US Government Statistics
Some smart people who love data are trying to save important information from the US government.
They are worried that the government is changing or getting rid of important numbers and facts.
They are collecting and saving these facts to make sure everyone can still see them.
The changes they've seen include changing words and taking away questions.
They want to ensure that data remains accurate and available for future use.
Data experts are working to preserve US government statistics amidst concerns of data alteration and disappearance.
Changes include data sets being altered, with 'gender' often switched to 'sex'.
Groups like dataindex.us and Data Mirror are formed to collect and archive at-risk federal data.
Experts are reaching out to government workers to back up restricted data.
An unofficial advisory committee to the US Census Bureau has been revived.
- Who
- Data scientists, statisticians, and demographers are working to preserve the data.
- What
- Data experts are working to preserve US government statistics.
- When
- Changes and preservation efforts began after President Trump's second term, with data being altered in the first quarter of the year.
- Where
- US government websites and statistical agencies.
- Why
- To ensure that accurate and reliable data is available to the public and policymakers, despite potential manipulation.
Data Preservation Advocates
US Government (Implicitly)
Need for Accessible Data
Data Preservation Advocates
Data should be preserved to maintain integrity of information and aid democracy.
US Government (Implicitly)
Official government stance has caused concern of data manipulation.
- Focus
- Preservation of US Government data
- Concerns
- Data alteration and disappearance
- Action
- Data collection, archiving, and advisory committee revival
- Groups Involved
- dataindex.us, Data Mirror, Data Rescue Project
- Alterations Noted
- Changing 'gender' to 'sex'