The Trump administration is systematically deleting government data, affecting everything from infant deaths to hunger. Experts warn the consequences could last generations.
How Data Deletion Harms Americans
Federal data helps understand problems Americans face. Its erasure impacts safety, health, and financial security.
1. Hazardous Chemical Risks Hidden
An EPA tool allowing residents to check if they live near hazardous chemical facilities was removed. Now, only paper records at reading rooms are available, hindering community safety.
2. Infant Mortality Tracking Stopped
The Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), which tracked maternal and infant health, is inaccessible after staff were dismissed. This loss hampers efforts to reduce infant mortality.
3. Food Insecurity Data Eliminated
The USDA terminated the Food Security Supplement survey, the gold standard for measuring hunger. This makes it impossible to assess impacts of SNAP cuts.
4. Trans Youth Suicide Data Erased
The Youth Risk Behavior Survey removed questions about gender identity, erasing data on suicide risks for trans youth. Over 360 federal data collections have similar deletions.
5. Climate Disaster Records Ceased
NOAA stopped updating its Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters database, crucial for insurance pricing and disaster preparedness. This could raise insurance costs and reduce coverage.
These deletions affect vulnerable communities disproportionately and undermine evidence-based policy.
