Disappearing Federal Data

To ensure continued access to critical government data, follow these best practices:

1. Download Data Immediately

• If you come across government datasets or reports relevant to your work, download them as soon as possible. Data can disappear without warning due to policy changes, agency restructuring, or website overhauls.

2. Store Data Securely

• Keep backups in multiple locations, such as:
  • Institutional or personal cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive)
  • External hard drives or USB storage
  • A university or research repository
• Encrypt sensitive data to protect privacy and integrity.

3. Use Multiple File Formats

• Save government reports or web pages as PDFs or HTML files for documentation.

4. Document Metadata and Sources

• Record key details such as:
  • Original source URL
  • Date of retrieval
  • File format and any modifications made
• Consider using citation tools like Zotero to organize references and archived web pages.

5. Check for Existing Backups

• Before assuming data is lost, check for archived versions on:
  • The Library of Congress Web Archive
  • DataRefuge or EDGI (Environmental Data & Governance Initiative)
  • Institutional repositories or research libraries