Hoosier State Today

U.S. Senators Todd Young and Gary Peters have introduced a bipartisan bill aimed at modernizing data management practices within federal agencies. The proposed legislation seeks to extend the Chief Data Officers (CDO) Council and mandate an examination of current data management methods to enhance data quality, access, and transparency. This effort is intended to improve government services and potentially reduce costs.

Senator Young stated, "I worked with former Speaker Paul Ryan to establish the Chief Data Officers (CDO) Council, via the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018, to better coordinate data sharing and best practices across the federal government." He added that the new bill builds on existing efforts by incorporating AI readiness into the Council's objectives and requiring detailed recommendations on data policy changes from both the CDO Council and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director.

Senator Peters emphasized the importance of robust data practices as AI usage grows within federal agencies. "Extending the Chief Data Officers Council will ensure that the federal government is able to pursue best practices to manage and protect data, especially as agencies increasingly adopt AI and other technologies to improve government operations," he said.

The CDO Council was established in 2018 and has since released various toolkits, reports, and pilot programs aimed at enhancing data-sharing practices. It is currently set to expire in 2025. The new bill proposes extending its tenure by seven years to address emerging challenges posed by technologies like AI.

Additionally, the legislation would require OMB to provide a report detailing ways to clarify and enhance the roles of Chief Data Officers across government agencies. This includes identifying necessary resources and skills for supporting data governance and AI adoption. The CDO Council would also need to report on key data governance issues, offer best practice recommendations for ensuring reliable and transparent agency data, assess challenges hindering AI adoption, suggest policies for data ownership in AI procurement contracts, and provide guidance on defining and using synthetic data generated by AI systems.