When the United States government issued its Federal Data Strategy in 2019, it recognized the role of data as a component of infrastructure. This point must not be lost as the country proceeds in considering the President’s American Jobs Plan, the infrastructure proposal presented by the White House in March 2021.
The reason data is infrastructure is simple – no aspect of traditional or social infrastructure, spending, or implementation of any government service or activity can be designed, implemented, and monitored without a coherent, sustained data capacity. Data infrastructure involves the people, processes, systems, and resources that enable the entire ecosystem for data-driven decision-making from the collection of information through the analysis and presentation. It involves the systems on which information is stored, but also much more to ensure the information stored is high-quality and usable.
Data infrastructure requires investment, just like building and repairing roads or creating a greener economy. For too long, our country has underinvested in its national data infrastructure and we have an opportunity to correct this problem. Congress and the White House can leverage the American Jobs Plan to ensure the country has critical information and capabilities for using data to support accountability, learning, and transparency for the American public.
Here are three suggestions of data infrastructure components that meet longstanding needs and support national priorities:
If the country is serious about building an infrastructure for the challenges of the 21st century, we must also have the data to ensure the policies and investments achieve intended goals.
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