The order could have implications for how the Department of Government Efficiency continues its work.
In a lesser-noticed executive order issued on March 20, President Donald Trump directed federal agencies to grant his designees complete access to unclassified government data.
The order, somewhat overshadowed by an order to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, mandates that federal officials designated by the president or agency heads receive “full and prompt access to all unclassified agency records, data, software systems, and information technology systems” for the purpose of rooting out “waste, fraud, and abuse.”
“This includes authorizing and facilitating both the intra- and inter-agency sharing and consolidation of unclassified agency records,” it states.
Under the order, agency heads have 30 days to revise or remove internal policies that obstruct data-sharing within and across agencies. During that same period, agencies must also submit a report of those changes to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), which is implementing the White House’s efforts to shrink the federal bureaucracy.
The order further mandates a review of classified information policies to determine whether current classification practices exceed what is necessary to protect national security. Agency heads must submit recommendations to the OMB on whether to change or get rid of such policies.
In addition, the order instructs agency leaders to make sure they have “unfettered access” to comprehensive data from state programs that receive federal funding, including information housed in third-party databases. It also specifically says the secretary of labor and her designees must have total access to all unemployment data and related payment records.
While the order does not mention the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) by name, the new policy could help the Elon Musk-led team expand its cost-cutting activities.
Since its creation, DOGE has been involved in a range of federal agencies—including the U.S. Agency for International Development, the departments of education and the Treasury, and the Social Security Administration (SSA)—tracking grants, contracts, and other expenditures in an effort to identify inefficiencies and potential budget cuts.
By Bill Pan
