Defining and celebrating exceptional federal data practices
The federal government now has the largest political workforce in at least 40 years and the smallest career senior leadership in at least 25 years—simultaneously. In the first year of his second term, President Donald Trump placed more non-Senate confirmed political appointees across agencies than any modern president and did so at a historically fast pace.
In 2024, the Partnership for Public Service and USAFacts launched the Federal Data Excellence Program to recognize standout federal data products that empower leaders to make better decisions, enable greater agency accountability and give Americans a better understanding of their government. At the same time, a lot has changed over the past year, with potential implications for federal data. In 2025, the Trump administration reshaped the operations and management of the federal government, leading to staffing and funding changes across many agencies. In addition, the federal government experienced a historic 43-day shutdown in the fall.
The Partnership for Public Service has long worked with Republicans and Democrats to strengthen the federal work force. After Trump’s return to office, it found itself in direct conflict with an administration bent on dismantling the civil service and upending its mission.
The vast majority of Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement employees who responded to our 2025 Public Service Viewpoint Survey lack trust in their politically appointed leaders, shedding light on a dysfunctional work culture that threatens the agencies’ ability to meet their obligations to the public.