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Overview

Components of the Federal Data Strategy

Federal Data Strategy Framework

The Strategy comprises of four components to guide federal data management and use:

  1. Mission Statement: The mission statement articulates the intent and core purpose of the Strategy.

  2. Principles: The ten principles serve as timeless guidance to agencies in the areas of: Ethical Governance, Conscious Design, and Learning Culture. These principles informed the development of practices, the 2020 Action Plan, and will also inform subsequent action steps for the Strategy.

  3. Practices: The 40 practices guide agencies on how to leverage the value of data, focusing on Building a Culture that Values Data and Promotes Public Use; Governing, Managing, and Protecting Data; and Promoting Efficient and Appropriate Data Use. The practices informed the development of the 2020 Action Plan and will inform the development of subsequent action steps for the Strategy.

  4. Annual Action Plan: Specify measurable activities to implement the practices and that are the priority for a given year, providing timeframes for implementation and identification of responsible parties.

Agencies will implement the Federal Data Strategy by adhering to the requirements of the Action Steps in yearly Action Plans in accordance with OMB guidance.

Mission

The mission of the Federal Data Strategy is to fully leverage the value of federal data for mission, service, and the public good by guiding the Federal Government in practicing ethical governance, conscious design, and a learning culture.
  • Principles
    Ethical Governance
    1. Uphold Ethics
    2. Exercise Responsibility
    3. Promote Transparency
    Conscious Design
    1. Ensure Relevance
    2. Harness Existing Data
    3. Anticipate Future Uses
    4. Demonstrate Responsiveness
    Learning Culture
    1. Invest in Learning
    2. Develop Data Leaders
    3. Practice Accountability
    1. Identify Data Needs to Answer Key Agency Questions
    2. Assess and Balance the Needs of Stakeholders
    3. Champion Data Use
    4. Use Data to Guide Decision-Making
    5. Prepare to Share
    6. Convey Insights from Data
    7. Increase Accountability of Federal Spending
    8. Monitor and Address Public Perceptions
    9. Connect Data Functions Across Agencies
    10. Provide Resources Explicitly to Leverage Data Asset
  • Action 1: Identify Data Needs to Answer Priority Agency Questions
    Action 4: Identify Opportunities to Increase Staff Data Skills
    Action 7: Launch a Federal Chief Data Officer Council
    Action 9: Improve Financial Management Data Standards
    Action 11: Develop a Repository of Federal Enterprise Data Resources
    Action 12: Create an OMB Federal Data Policy Committee
    Action 14: Develop a Data Ethics Framework
    1. Prioritize Data Governance
    2. Govern Data to Protect Confidentiality and Privacy
    3. Protect Data Integrity
    4. Convey Data Authenticity
    5. Assess Maturity
    6. Inventory Data Assets
    7. Recognize the Value of Data Assets
    8. Manage with a Long View
    9. Maintain Data Documentation
    10. Leverage Data Standards
    11. Align Agreements with Data Management Requirements
    12. Identify Opportunities to Overcome Resource Obstacles
    13. Allow Amendment
    14. Enhance Data Preservation
    15. Coordinate Federal Data Assets
    16. Share Data Between State, Local, and Tribal Governments and Federal Agencies
  • Action 1: Identify Data Needs to Answer Priority Agency Questions
    Action 2: Constitute a Diverse Data Governance Body
    Action 3: Assess Data and Related Infrastructure Maturity
    Action 4: Identify Opportunities to Increase Staff Data Skills
    Action 5: Identify Priority Datasets for Agency Open Data Plans
    Action 6: Publish and Update Data Inventories
    Action 7: Launch a Federal Chief Data Officer Council
    Action 10: Integrate Geospatial Data Practices into the Federal Data Enterprise
    Action 11: Develop a Repository of Federal Enterprise Data Resources
    Action 12: Create an OMB Federal Data Policy Committee
    Action 14: Develop a Data Ethics Framework
    Action 15: Develop a Data Protection Toolkit
    Action 17: Pilot an Automated Tool for Information Collection Reviews That Supports Data Inventory Creation And Updates
    Action 18: Pilot Enhanced Data Management Tool for Federal Agencies
    Action 19: Develop Data Quality Measuring and Reporting Guidance
    Action 20: Develop a Data Standards Repository
    1. Increase Capacity for Data Management and Analysis
    2. Align Quality with Intended Use
    3. Design Data for Use and Re-Use
    4. Communicate Planned and Potential Uses of Data
    5. Explicitly Communicate Allowable Use
    6. Harness Safe Data Linkage
    7. Promote Wide Access
    8. Diversify Data Access Methods
    9. Review Data Releases for Disclosure Risk
    10. Leverage Partnerships
    11. Leverage Buying Power
    12. Leverage Collaborative Computing Platforms
    13. Support Federal Stakeholders
    14. Support Non-Federal Stakeholders
  • Action 1: Identify Data Needs to Answer Priority Agency Questions
    Action 2: Constitute a Diverse Data Governance Body
    Action 4: Identify Opportunities to Increase Staff Data Skills
    Action 5: Identify Priority Datasets for Agency Open Data Plans
    Action 6: Publish and Update Data Inventories
    Action 8: Improve Data and Model Resources for AI Research and Development
    Action 10: Integrate Geospatial Data Practices into the Federal Data Enterprise
    Action 11: Develop a Repository of Federal Enterprise Data Resources
    Action 13: Develop a Curated Data Skills Catalog
    Action 14: Develop a Data Ethics Framework
    Action 15: Develop a Data Protection Toolkit
    Action 16: Pilot a One-stop Standard Research Application
    Action 19: Develop Data Quality Measuring and Reporting Guidance