Slate Money Money Talks: The Disappearing Databases
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Feb 18, 2025 
Lizzie O’Leary, a savvy business journalist and host of What Next: TBD, dives into the alarming reduction of government databases during the Trump administration. She discusses how this trend threatens the reliability of economic data, which is essential for informed policy-making and public trust. The podcast also tackles the challenges statistical agencies face due to budget cuts and rising skepticism, emphasizing the critical role of accessible data in shaping economic understanding and maintaining a healthy democracy.
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Data Removal Under Trump Administration
- The Trump administration removed vast amounts of government data and websites, including crucial economic and health information.
- This removal impacts researchers, policymakers, and regular Americans who rely on this data.
US Government Data Collection
- The US government was considered the best in the world at collecting data, crucial for policy and economic decisions.
- This data includes economic indicators and broader information like teen behavior and disease data.
Concerns About Data Removal
- There are three main concerns regarding the data removal: inaccessibility, lack of updates, and decreased reliability.
- These concerns affect various sectors, from health and environment to economics and public trust.