The Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 (Evidence Act) aims to improve federal data management and use in policymaking. It mandates that agencies make their data accessible, develop evidence-based policies, and submit annual plans to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) detailing their data-related activities. The Evidence Act establishes roles like Evaluation Officer and Chief Data Officer (CDO) to oversee these efforts. It also forms an Advisory Committee on Data for Evidence Building to guide best practices. The Act also incorporated the OPEN Government Data Act, which requires public government data to be published as machine-readable, with the GSA charged to create a centralized online federal data catalog for public access to agency data.
The Evidence Act is crucial for federal data leaders, particularly the CDO, as it emphasizes the importance of data-driven decision-making and accountability in government operations, ensuring that policies are informed by accurate, timely, and relevant data. This legislation represents a significant step towards more transparent and effective governance through the strategic use of data.