Trump signs order to enhance federal data access for waste and fraud detection

Investing.com -- Yesterday, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that directs federal agency heads to provide full and immediate access to unclassified records, data, and systems. The goal of this order is to identify and eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse within the government.

The order details several steps to be taken towards improving inter-agency data sharing and removing unnecessary barriers to federal employees accessing government data. The aim is to enhance the government’s ability to detect overpayments and fraud, while also eliminating bureaucratic duplication and inefficiency.

The order defines an "Agency" as per section 3502 of title 44, United States Code, excluding the Executive Office of the President or any of its components. The "Agency Head" is defined as the highest-ranking official of an agency, such as the Secretary, Administrator, or Director.

The order mandates Agency Heads to ensure Federal officials designated by the President or Agency Heads have full and prompt access to all unclassified agency records and data. This includes both intra- and inter-agency sharing and consolidation of unclassified agency records.

Within 30 days of the order, Agency Heads are required to rescind or modify any agency guidance that serves as a barrier to data sharing. They must also review agency regulations governing unclassified data access and submit a report to the Office of Management and Budget within 30 days, recommending whether any regulations should be eliminated or modified.

The order also requires Agency Heads to ensure the Federal Government has unrestricted access to data from all State programs that receive Federal funding. This includes data maintained in third-party databases.

The Secretary of Labor and the Secretary’s designees are to receive unrestricted access to all unemployment data and related payment records, consistent with the law.

The order supersedes any prior Executive Orders, rules or regulations that serve as a barrier to data sharing. Agency Heads are also instructed to review classified information policies and submit a report within 45 days, recommending whether any policies should be eliminated or modified.

The order clarifies that it should not be construed to impair or otherwise affect the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof. It also does not affect the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

The order, signed at the White House on March 20, 2025, does not create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

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