By breaking down information silos, this action can improve oversight, uncover improper payments, and strengthen program integrity, potentially saving taxpayer dollars and ensuring federal resources are directed toward those who need them most. However, without strong privacy protections, increased data sharing could disproportionately expose sensitive personal information (including health-related or social service data) of marginalized communities to misuse beyond fraud prevention. This is especially of concern for immigrant communities given the current climate of immigration enforcement.
Executive Office of the President - White House Office
A directive issued by the President that manages operations of the federal government. Executive orders have the force of law but must align with existing statutes and constitutional authority.
Who It Impacts: Federal agencies and employees, directing them on how to implement laws or carry out government functions. Executive orders can also influence businesses and individuals when they relate to issues like immigration, trade, or labor policies.
Who Is Not Impacted: Private citizens and businesses do not have to directly follow an executive order unless it leads to regulations or policies that apply to them. For example, an executive order directing federal agencies to increase renewable energy use does not mandate action from private companies, but it may influence policy shifts that eventually affect them.
Date Enacted
March 26, 2025
Last Updated
December 2, 2025
Policy Type
Research and Data
Public Health
Justice System
Social Safety Net
Children and Families
Summary
This order requires federal agencies to remove barriers to data access by enabling the sharing of unclassified records across agencies and between the federal government and states, aiming to detect and prevent waste, fraud, and abuse more effectively.
Impact Analysis
Legal Challenges
N/A
Take Institutional Action
Public health and social service agencies should collaborate with federal partners to surface relevant data (e.g., on benefit usage, health program enrollment) that can inform waste-reduction efforts without compromising client confidentiality. Policy and technology leaders should work together to build secure, privacy-conscious infrastructure that supports cross-agency data exchange while minimizing risks to individuals, especially for sensitive populations.
Organizations receiving federal funds should proactively prepare for increased data-sharing demands, ensuring their systems are compatible and that they comply with new reporting or access rules.
Health equity advocates and civil-rights organizations should monitor implementation to ensure that data transparency does not lead to discriminatory surveillance and should push for clear guardrails and community-informed data governance.
Assess current data collection practices and examine whether data is necessary to collect. Data collection is not always harmless. Consider only collecting data that is required or essential for the goals of a project or program.
Associated or Derivative Policies
Associated: This order complements other efficiency-focused orders, such as Executive Order on consolidating procurement to reduce duplication.
Derivative: It rescinds prior agency guidance and regulation that restricted data sharing, including those that prevented inter- or intra-agency access to unclassified information.
Policy Prior to 2025
Before this order, many federal agencies maintained strict rules and system-of-record notices that limited access to data. There were significant legal and bureaucratic hurdles to sharing information across agencies or with state programs.
Additional Resources
HHS.gov: Fraud, Waste and Abuse for Health Care Providers: https://oig.hhs.gov/reports-and-publications/featured-topics/ihs/training/fraud-waste-and-abuse-for-health-care-providers/content/#/
Oversight.gov: Where to report fraud, waste and abuse: https://www.oversight.gov/where-report-fraud-waste-abuse-or-retaliation
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