President Donald Trump's second term saw a significant decline in federal data collection across various sectors, according to a report released Dec. 31, 2025. The administration's actions, driven by ideological opposition to data, a desire to conceal unfavorable trends, and substantial budget cuts, have weakened the government's ability to monitor critical aspects of the nation, including the environment, public health, employment, demographics, and weather patterns.

The reduction in data collection has far-reaching consequences, potentially hindering scientific advancements, obscuring the true state of the economy, and impeding the ability of officials to identify and address emerging health crises. Umair Irfan, Dylan Scott, Sara Herschander, and Shayna Korol, the authors of the report, highlighted the administration's hostility toward data that contradicted its messaging as a key factor in the rollbacks.

Specifically, the report detailed eight ways the administration undermined data collection throughout the year. These included cuts to environmental monitoring programs, reduced funding for public health surveys, and alterations to the collection of employment statistics. The impact of these changes is already being felt in the scientific community, where researchers are struggling to access reliable data for their studies.

"Without robust and accurate data, we are essentially flying blind," said one climate scientist who wished to remain anonymous, citing concerns about potential repercussions from the administration. "It becomes much harder to understand the complex systems that govern our world and to develop effective solutions to the challenges we face."

The administration defended its actions by arguing that some data collection efforts were unnecessary or overly burdensome. Officials claimed that streamlining these processes would save taxpayer money and reduce regulatory burdens on businesses. However, critics countered that the cost savings were minimal compared to the potential harm caused by the loss of critical data.

The long-term effects of these data collection rollbacks remain to be seen. However, experts warn that the lack of reliable data could have significant implications for policymaking, scientific research, and public health for years to come. The report's authors called for increased transparency and accountability in data collection practices to ensure that the government has the information it needs to effectively govern the country.