Marketplace All-in-One The federal data and tools that "died" this year
Nov 25, 2025
Denice Ross, a senior advisor at the Federation of American Scientists and former U.S. chief data scientist, discusses the alarming loss of vital federal datasets during the Trump administration. She reveals how crucial data on climate, health, and demographics disappeared, impacting both research and community decision-making. Ross highlights specific examples such as the removal of EPA's EJ Screen and the cancellation of the HIGH-FILD dataset. She warns that while private entities can assist, they can't fully replace the comprehensive and irreplaceable nature of federal data.
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Digital Tools Lower Data Barriers
- Federal digital tools like EJ Screen condensed complex environmental and community data into usable maps for decision-makers.
- Losing those tools raises barriers even if underlying data continue to be produced.
Critical Infrastructure Data Centralized
- The HIGH-FIELD collection centralized about 300 infrastructure data sets emergency managers used.
- Its cancellation removed a one-stop resource for hazards, vulnerable populations, and response assets.
Federal Scale Enables Fair Data
- The federal government uniquely produces fair, complete nationwide data at scale that many rely on.
- Tools built on those data enable action; losing the tools makes converting data to outcomes harder.