Stopping Waste, Fraud, and Abuse by Eliminating Information Silos

​On March 20, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order titled "Stopping Waste, Fraud, and Abuse by Eliminating Information Silos." This order aims to enhance government efficiency by promoting inter-agency data sharing and removing barriers that hinder access to unclassified information. Key directives include:​The White House+2The American Presidency Project+2Littler Mendelson P.C.+2Littler Mendelson P.C.+3The White House+3Fierce Healthcare+3

• Access to Unclassified Information: Agency heads are instructed to ensure that designated federal officials have full and prompt access to all unclassified agency records, data, and information technology systems. This access is intended to facilitate the identification and elimination of waste, fraud, and abuse. ​Eversheds Sutherland+3The White House+3The White House+3

• Rescinding Restrictive Guidance: Within 30 days of the order, agency heads must rescind or modify any internal guidance that serves as a barrier to intra- or inter-agency sharing of unclassified information. They are also required to review existing regulations governing data access and recommend modifications to promote transparency and efficiency. ​Littler Mendelson P.C.+1The White House+1

• Access to State Program Data: The order mandates that the federal government obtain comprehensive data from all state programs receiving federal funding, including data maintained in third-party databases, to enhance oversight and reduce inefficiencies. ​The White House

• Department of Labor Oversight: The Secretary of Labor is granted immediate and unrestricted access to all unemployment data and related payment records to strengthen fraud detection and prevention efforts. ​The White House+1Littler Mendelson P.C.+1

This executive order is part of a broader initiative by the Trump administration to streamline federal operations, reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies, and safeguard public funds by enhancing data transparency and inter-agency collaboration. ​The White House

However, some experts have raised concerns about potential overreach and the implications for civil liberties. They caution that the consolidation of data could lead to increased surveillance and misuse of information beyond the intended purpose of combating waste and fraud. ​The Record from Recorded Future

Overall, while the executive order seeks to promote efficiency and accountability within the federal government, it also necessitates careful consideration of privacy and civil rights implications.​

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By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:

Section 1.  Purpose.  Removing unnecessary barriers to Federal employees accessing Government data and promoting inter‑agency data sharing are important steps toward eliminating bureaucratic duplication and inefficiency while enhancing the Government’s ability to detect overpayments and fraud.

Sec. 2.  Definitions.  (a)  “Agency” has the meaning given to it in section 3502 of title 44, United States Code, except that such term does not include the Executive Office of the President or any components thereof.

(b)  “Agency Head” means the highest-ranking official of an agency, such as the Secretary, Administrator, or Director.  With respect to multimember agencies, “Agency Head” means the Chairman or equivalent official.

Sec. 3.  Eliminating Information Silos.  (a)  Agency Heads shall take all necessary steps, to the maximum extent consistent with law, to ensure Federal officials designated by the President or Agency Heads (or their designees) have full and prompt access to all unclassified agency records, data, software systems, and information technology systems — or their equivalents if providing access to an equivalent dataset does not delay access — for purposes of pursuing Administration priorities related to the identification and elimination of waste, fraud, and abuse.  This includes authorizing and facilitating both the intra- and inter-agency sharing and consolidation of unclassified agency records.

(b)  Within 30 days of the date of this order, Agency Heads shall, to the maximum extent consistent with law, rescind or modify all agency guidance that serves as a barrier to the inter- or intra-agency sharing of unclassified information specified in subsection (a) of this section.  Agency Heads shall also review agency regulations governing unclassified data access, including system of records notices, and, within 30 days of the date of this order, submit a report to the Office of Management and Budget cataloging those regulations and recommending whether any should be eliminated or modified to achieve the goals set forth in this order.  Regulatory modifications pursuant to this order are exempt from Executive Order 14192.

(c)  Immediately upon execution of this order, Agency Heads shall take all necessary steps, to the maximum extent consistent with law, to ensure the Federal Government has unfettered access to comprehensive data from all State programs that receive Federal funding, including, as appropriate, data generated by those programs but maintained in third-party databases.

(d)  Immediately upon execution of this order and without limiting the above directives, the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary’s designees shall receive, to the maximum extent consistent with law, unfettered access to all unemployment data and related payment records, including all such data and records currently available to the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

(e)  This order supersedes any prior Executive Orders and rules or regulations subject to direct Presidential rulemaking authority to the extent they serve as a barrier to the inter- or intra-agency sharing of unclassified information as specified in this order.

(f)  Agency Heads shall conduct a review of classified information policies to determine whether they result in the classification of materials beyond what is necessary to protect critical national security interests and, within 45 days of the date of this order, submit a report to the Office of Management and Budget cataloguing those classified information policies and recommending whether any should be eliminated or modified to achieve the goals set forth in this order.

Sec. 4.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
 

THE WHITE HOUSE,
    March 20, 2025.