New and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service that have been withheld by Congress from online public distribution include the following.
Defense: FY2014 Authorization and Appropriations, December 16, 2013
Rare Earth Elements: The Global Supply Chain, December 16, 2013
China-U.S. Trade Issues, December 16, 2013
Samantar v. Yousef: The Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act and Foreign Officials, December 16, 2013
Federal Pollution Control Laws: How Are They Enforced?, December 16, 2013
Federal Civil Aviation Programs: In Brief, December 16, 2013
Datasets and variables that do not align with Administration priorities, or might reflect poorly on Administration policy impacts, seem to be especially in the cross-hairs.
One month of a government shutdown is in the books, but how many more months will (or can) it go? Congress is paralyzed, but there are a few spasms of activity around healthcare and the prospects of a continuing resolution to punt this fight out until January or later.
At a period where the federal government is undergoing significant changes in how it hires, buys, collects and organizes data, and delivers, deeper exploration of trust in these facets as worthwhile.
Moving postsecondary education data collection to the states is the best way to ensure that the U.S. Department of Education can meet its legislative mandates in an era of constrained federal resources.