Stopping Waste, Fraud, and Abuse by Eliminating Information Silos

Executive Orders

TLDR

This executive order removes barriers to data sharing between federal agencies by requiring full access to unclassified records, mandating rescission of restrictive guidance within 30 days, reviewing regulations limiting data access, ensuring federal access to state program data, and specifically granting “unfettered access” to unemployment records to combat waste, fraud, and abuse.

This executive order aims to remove barriers to data sharing between federal agencies to improve efficiency and combat waste, fraud, and abuse. The key provisions include:

  • Requiring agency heads to ensure designated federal officials have “full and prompt access” to all unclassified agency records, data, and IT systems
  • Mandating agencies rescind or modify guidance that impedes data sharing within 30 days
  • Requiring agencies to review and potentially modify regulations governing data access
  • Ensuring federal government access to comprehensive data from state programs receiving federal funding
  • Specifically directing the Secretary of Labor to receive “unfettered access” to all unemployment data and payment records
  • Requiring a review of classified information policies within 45 days

Potential benefits:

  • Could streamline government operations by reducing duplication of efforts across agencies
  • May enhance fraud detection capabilities, particularly in programs like unemployment insurance
  • Could create more unified and comprehensive data analysis capabilities

Potential concerns:

  • The order uses broad language like “unfettered access” which raises questions about privacy safeguards
  • The exemption from Executive Order 14192 removes certain regulatory review requirements
  • The 30-day timeline for implementation may be challenging for agencies with complex data systems
  • The order supersedes prior executive orders that may have contained important privacy protections
  • There’s limited mention of data security protocols for this expanded sharing

Implementation challenges:

  • Technical barriers to data integration across disparate agency systems
  • Potential conflicts with existing privacy laws like the Privacy Act of 1974
  • Resource constraints for agencies to implement these changes quickly
  • Possible resistance from state governments regarding data from state-administered programs

This executive order represents a significant shift toward centralized data access across the federal government, prioritizing fraud detection and efficiency over the traditional siloed approach to government information.

REFERENCES

  • 2025-03-21: Trump executive order consolidates federal IT contracting under GSA | FedScoop — President Trump signed an executive order consolidating federal IT contracting under the General Services Administration, giving GSA authority over all governmentwide acquisition contracts for IT within 30 days. The order aims to eliminate waste and duplication in federal procurement, allowing agencies to focus on their core missions.

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:

Section 1.

Purpose.

Removing unnecessary barriers to Federal employees accessing Government data and promoting inter‑agency data sharing are important steps toward eliminating bureaucratic duplication and inefficiency while enhancing the Government’s ability to detect overpayments and fraud.

Sec. 2.

Definitions.

(a) “Agency” has the meaning given to it in section 3502 of title 44, United States Code, except that such term does not include the Executive Office of the President or any components thereof.

(b) “Agency Head” means the highest-ranking official of anagency, such as the Secretary, Administrator, or Director. With respect to multimember agencies, “Agency Head” means the Chairman or equivalent official.

Sec. 3.

Eliminating Information Silos.

(a) Agency Heads shall take all necessary steps, to the maximum extent consistent with law, to ensure Federal officials designated by the President or Agency Heads (or their designees) have full and prompt access to all unclassified agency records, data, software systems, and information technology systems — or their equivalents if providing access to an equivalent dataset does not delay access — for purposes of pursuing Administration priorities related to the identification and elimination of waste, fraud, and abuse. This includes authorizing and facilitating both the intra- and inter-agency sharing and consolidation of unclassified agency records.

(b) Within 30 days of the date of this order, Agency Heads shall, to the maximum extent consistent with law, rescind or modify all agency guidance that serves as a barrier to the inter- or intra-agency sharing of unclassified information specified in subsection (a) of this section. Agency Heads shall also review agency regulations governing unclassified data access, including system of records notices, and, within 30 days of the date of this order, submit a report to the Office of Management and Budget cataloging those regulations and recommending whether any should be eliminated or modified to achieve the goals set forth in this order. Regulatory modifications pursuant to this order are exempt from Executive Order 14192.

© Immediately upon execution of this order, Agency Heads shall take all necessary steps, to the maximum extent consistent with law, to ensure the Federal Government has unfettered access to comprehensive data from all State programs that receive Federal funding, including, as appropriate, data generated by those programs but maintained in third-party databases.

(d) Immediately upon execution of this order and without limiting the above directives, the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary’s designees shall receive, to the maximum extent consistent with law, unfettered access to all unemployment data and related payment records, including all such data and records currently available to the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

(e) This order supersedes any prior Executive Orders and rules or regulations subject to direct Presidential rulemaking authority to the extent they serve as a barrier to the inter- or intra-agency sharing of unclassified information as specified in this order.

(f) Agency Heads shall conduct a review of classified information policies to determine whether they result in the classification of materials beyond what is necessary to protect critical national security interests and, within 45 days of the date of this order, submit a report to the Office of Management and Budget cataloguing those classified information policies and recommending whether any should be eliminated or modified to achieve the goals set forth in this order.

Sec. 4.

General Provisions.

(a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

© This order is not intended to, and 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.

THE WHITE HOUSE,
March 20, 2025.