We also encourage you to check out these helpful resources:
⭐ Blog: “Public Commenting on Federal Data: More Powerful (and More Doable) Than It Looks” dataindex.us/newsletter/a...
⭐ Webinar: “How to Write a Public Comment on Federal Data” youtu.be/juxDbbdfp9o?...
We’re excited to launch our first Take Action Office Hours tomorrow!
Join Meghan Maury from 12–1pm ET to discuss your public comment questions, ideas, or drafts.
👉 Register here: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
A paper note with a red push pin says the following: “Take Action Office Hours. Drop in, ask questions, and get help crafting effective public comments on federal data. 1st Friday of each month | 12 - 1 PM ET.” The dataindex.us logo is on the bottom.
📣 Join us for Take Action Monthly Office Hours starting Friday, April 3! Whether you have big-picture strategy questions or small technical ones, we’re here to support you. We’ll also share updates on the latest public comment opportunities.
Register: tinyurl.com/take-action-office-hours
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Take Action webinar on how to write public comments on federal data. Check out the recording to learn key tips for writing an effective comment.
To stay up to date on public comment opportunities, check out our Take Action page: dataindex.us/datawatch
The Federal Register is like the "Facebook for the federal government." ❤️ Attending @dataindex.us webinar on the public comment process. Thanks for demystifying this process!
We hope you can join us this Friday to learn how public comments can help shape federal data and policy.
📌 Register here: tinyurl.com/TakeAction-Webinar
A paper note with a red push pin says the following - Take Action: How to Write a Public Comment on Federal Data. March 20, 2026. 1:00-1:30 PM ET. Webinar hosted by dataindex.us.
Ever wondered whether public comments actually matter—or how data advocates use them strategically? Join us to learn how public comments and sign-on letters shape federal data and policy, build alignment within movements, and even energize supporters.
📌 Register here: tinyurl.com/TakeAction-Webinar
@mapresearch.bsky.social recently released a report on the federal SOGI data landscape one year into the second Trump Administration. In our latest blog, @caromedina.bsky.social answers key questions about what these rollbacks mean for policy, research, and advocacy, and preventing misuse of data.
Data for Democracy. Data Defense: How to Use Key Tools to Advocate for Accessible Public Data. February 25, 11am-12pm ET. The image contains a group of people and the CTData logo.
State and local data users – today at 11 am ET, we are joining CTData Collaborative to share about dataindex.us and EssentialData.US. Join us to learn how to track shifts in federal data and ensure that the data we rely on remains accurate and accessible.
dataindex.us/events/Data%...
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Rapid Response Data Briefing on the 2026 Census Test, an essential step toward the 2030 Census.
@apduorg.bsky.social @prbdata.bsky.social @civilrightsorg.bsky.social @faircount.bsky.social
Join us today at 4 pm ET for a Rapid Response Data Briefing on the 2026 Census Test.
🔗 Register here: tinyurl.com/2026-Census-...
Reminder to tune in to our Rapid Response Data Briefing next Monday, February 23, at 4 PM ET to learn—in just 30 minutes—about the plans to scale back the 2026 Census Test and how you can take action.
🔗 Register here: tinyurl.com/2026-Census-...
All responses are confidential and will be reported only in aggregate form.
We are hoping to capture as many experiences as possible, so please forward this survey link to others in your organization or network who use federal data.
Do you use federal statistical data? SSRS is conducting a brief survey funded by the Knight Foundation and with advisory support from ICPSR and APDU to capture how recent changes have impacted a wide range of users of public data.
Survey link to complete by 2/27: ssrspanel.com/wix/p8684348...
Webinar. Rapid Response Data Briefing: 2026 Census Test. February 23, 2026. 4:00 - 4:30 PM ET. There is a dark blue background, with a transparent star over it, and the logos of the co-hosts are on the bottom of the graphic.
🚨 Did you know that the 2026 Census Test has been announced, but many of the plans have been scaled back? Join our Rapid Response Data Briefing to learn about the risks it’s facing and how you can support this essential step toward the 2030 Census.
📍 Register here: tinyurl.com/2026-Census-...
Did you know there are revisions planned for the American Community Survey (ACS), the largest annual survey in the nation?
Read more about these changes and how to submit a comment in our latest blog post.
📣 Public comments are open through February 17, 2026.
A paper note with a red push pin says the following: RFI of the Week: NIH Controlled-Access Data Policy and Proposed Revisions to NIH Genomic Data Sharing Policy TAKE ACTION NIH is requesting public input on its proposal to establish harmonized and transparent policy requirements for protecting human participant research data. Specifically, NIH proposes establishing policy requirements for which data should be controlled-access under NIH data sharing policies, and revising the NIH Genomic Data Sharing Policy to simplify and harmonize requirements. Comments due March 18, 2026.
📌 Take Action on the RFI of the Week: NIH Data Policies
🔍 Take Action! blogs feature proposals for federal collections that are seeking public input.
✍️ Check out more opportunities to tell the government what you think. dataindex.us/newsletter/a...
We are excited to launch the Data Checkup–a health check for federal data collections.
The Data Checkup is a comprehensive framework for assessing the health of federal data collections, highlighting key dimensions of risk and presenting a clear status of data well-being.
Learn more below.
A paper note with a red push pin says the following: Survey of the Week: 2027 Census of Agriculture TAKE ACTION The Census of Agriculture is the primary source of statistics concerning the nation's agricultural industry. These data are used by Congress when developing or changing farm programs; many national and state programs are designed or allocated based on census data (e.g., soil conservation projects, funds for cooperative extension programs, and research funding); and private industry uses the data to provide more effective production and distribution systems for the agricultural community. Comments due March 16, 2026.
📌 Take Action on the Survey of the Week: 2027 Census of Agriculture
🔍 Take Action! blogs feature proposals for federal collections that are seeking public input.
✍️ Check out more opportunities to tell the government what you think. dataindex.us/newsletter/a...
@apduorg.bsky.social
@amstatnews.bsky.social
@firedbutfighting.bsky.social
@datarescueproject.org
@democracyforward.org
@essentialdata.us
@scientistsorg.bsky.social
@civilrightsorg.bsky.social
@mapresearch.bsky.social
@popassocamerica.bsky.social
@prbdata.bsky.social
@publicenvirodata.bsky.social
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our webinar, The Day Federal Data Went Dark: A Year of Monitoring and Action. We are grateful to be in a community with so many amazing organizations.
You can watch the recording to learn about more than a dozen efforts to monitor and safeguard federal data.
Thank you for joining us!
Happening now!
Excellent opening remarks from Beth Jarosz: "If data were frivolous, people wouldn't be trying to erase it."
Today at 2 PM ET, 14 organizations will come together to share how we’ve spent the past year monitoring and protecting federal data.
🔗 Register here: tinyurl.com/webinar-data...
For Data Privacy Week, we posted about the rise in data-sharing agreements, often framed as reducing “waste, fraud, and abuse.”
“Efficiency matters. But when people’s lives and livelihoods are on the line, accuracy, transparency, accountability, and basic data stewardship matter just as much.”
Join us this Thursday to learn about the work of more than a dozen organizations monitoring and safeguarding federal data.
🔗 Register here: tinyurl.com/webinar-data...
A paper note with a red push pin says the following: Survey of the Week: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey—Household Component TAKE ACTION MEPS collects data on the specific health services that Americans use, how frequently they use them, the cost of these services and how they are paid for, as well as data on the cost, scope, and breadth of health insurance held by and available to U.S. workers. HHS is making a number of changes to the MEPS, including removing questions on birth control, gender, aspirin use, and counseling; adding questions about use of sleep medication, trouble getting to sleep, screen time, use of wearable devices, self-assessed diet quality, fruit and vegetable consumption, meals eaten away from home, former smoking, and weight loss attempts; and making changes to a number of other questions. Comments due March 2, 2026.
📌 Take Action on the Survey of the Week: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey—Household Component
🔍 Take Action! blogs feature proposals for federal collections that are seeking public input.
✍️ Check out more opportunities to tell the government what you think. dataindex.us/newsletter/a...
