A demonstrator holds a sign during a February rally in Los Angeles to protest President Trump’s billionaire adviser Elon Musk and his DOGE team.
Etienne Laurent/AP
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Etienne Laurent/AP
In a recent initiative to eliminate certain U.S. government surveys, the DOGE team under the Trump administration has established its own survey.
This move, led by Ethan Shaotran, a member of the team formed by President Trump’s adviser Elon Musk, involves sending a seven-page form titled “2025 Survey of Surveys” to federal agencies using a General Services Administration email address, as per documents obtained by NPR. This action has raised concerns about potential bypassing of the White House’s Office of Management and Budget, which oversees federal government statistical activities.
The “Department of Government Efficiency,” as the team refers to itself, is believed to be duplicating OMB’s review of federal surveys and their resource requirements, according to some government data experts.
There are also concerns about possible violations of laws that mandate the government to report the statistics produced by a canceled survey.
The surveys that have been terminated so far are unclear
Before any federal survey can commence data collection, it must receive approval from OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act. However, the DOGE team claimed to have terminated five “wasteful” surveys without specifying which surveys were ended.
DOGE’s cost-cutting efforts have sparked criticism regarding certain survey questions, such as those related to internet usage at home and alcohol consumption. These surveys have been crucial sources of information cited by Congress and federal agencies.
Various government bodies have not responded to NPR’s requests for comment regarding these developments, raising concerns about potential violations of federal laws and regulations.
Most of the information DOGE is seeking is already publicly available
DOGE’s “2025 Survey of Surveys” requests information that is mostly already accessible through government websites. The push to cancel certain federal surveys without proper authorization has raised red flags among data experts and advocacy groups.
Concerns have been raised about potential violations of federal regulations and laws due to DOGE’s actions, prompting calls for congressional oversight and review of these changes.
Statistical agency heads must have “decision-making authority” over federal surveys, federal regulation says
Regulations dictate that decision-making authority for federal statistical activities lies with statistical agency leadership, not external entities. Advocacy groups are calling for thorough review and investigation of DOGE’s actions to ensure transparency and accountability.
Efforts to undermine federal statistical agencies have raised concerns about the integrity of national statistics and data, prompting calls for congressional intervention and oversight.
DOGE’s actions are adding pressure to already-struggling statistical agencies, particularly in the face of staffing and funding challenges. The implications of these actions could have far-reaching consequences for the accuracy and reliability of federal data in the future.
For those interested in sharing information about changes within federal statistical agencies or the government, please reach out to Hansi Lo Wang via the encrypted messaging app Signal (hansi.01) using a non-work device.
Edited by Benjamin Swasey
