Data Skills for Congress returns to empower with the facts

The third year of Data Skills for Congress officially began this month, with nearly 30 congressional staffers participating in the program designed to strengthen data use on Capitol Hill.

This unique course, a collaboration between USAFacts and the Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley, equips legislative staff with the tools and training needed to better access, analyze, and apply government data in their daily work — whether drafting legislation, conducting oversight, or serving constituents.

Why data skills matter for congressional staff

Congressional staff play a critical role in shaping and supporting legislation that affects Americans across the country. Yet many lack formal training in working with data, despite the crucial need for evidence-based policymaking.

Data Skills for Congress launched in 2023 to fill this gap. It’s the first program of its kind approved by both the House and Senate ethics committees, enabling staff from both chambers to participate without cost.

Over the 10-week hybrid program, participants explore federal data sources, learn how to communicate big ideas with data visualizations, are introduced to AI and cutting-edge data tools, and complete a capstone project that applies their new skills to a real-world policy issue.

A growing data community on Capitol Hill

USAFacts launched the program with the goal of making helping policymakers use government data in decision making, part of its broader mission to empower Americans with the facts.

In its first two years, Data Skills for Congress enrolled nearly 90 congressional staff. And participants have overwhelmingly positive feedback: 84% of 2024’s alumni from the cohort said that the class helped them improve their data visualization and AI skills for congressional work.

Participants strongly recommend the course to others on the Hill. Some described it as an “essential” skill set for the modern congressional office, with one student noting, “I never thought of myself as a ‘math person.’ This course taught me that I can work with data and made me feel more confident using it in my congressional work.”

“We created this program because we believe that government works better when everyone — including policymakers — can easily access and understand the numbers behind it,” said Poppy MacDonald, president of USAFacts. “We’re thrilled to see it continue to grow in its third year.”

What’s next

The spring 2025 cohort began on April 18^th and will run through mid-June. A condensed version of the class will run during the August recess, allowing more congressional staff to take advantage. With participants representing a range of committees and offices, the program continues to reflect bipartisan interest in data-driven policymaking.

To learn more about the program — or to apply for a future cohort — visit the Data Skills for Congress page.