Some recent Congressional Research Service reports obtained by Secrecy News that are not readily available in the public domain include the following (all pdf).
“Sharing Law Enforcement and Intelligence Information: The Congressional Role,” February 13, 2007.
“India-U.S. Relations,” updated February 13, 2007.
“Changes to the OMB Regulatory Review Process by Executive Order 13422,” February 5, 2007.
“Al Qaeda: Statements and Evolving Ideology,” updated January 24, 2007.
“Nonstrategic Nuclear Weapons,” updated January 9, 2007.
“Instances of Use of United States Armed Forces Abroad, 1798-2006,” updated January 8, 2007.
“‘Sensitive But Unclassified’ Information and Other Controls: Policy and Options for Scientific and Technical Information,” updated December 29, 2006.
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.