The Impact of Data Deletion on Research and Policy

Significant reductions in government data availability have raised concerns regarding the impact on research and policymaking. A large number of government domains and webpages, particularly those related to health and environmental data, have gone offline, limiting access for researchers and public health officials. This loss of data is troubling as it impedes the ability to accurately assess and develop informed policies based on reliable statistics, which are crucial for various sectors. The removal of foundational data sets, such as census statistics, disrupts fundamental processes like congressional redistricting and funding allocations.