Research and initiatives

USAFacts transforms government data into powerful insights — fueling policy debates with unbiased facts, equipping Congress with timely information, and spotlighting the state of the nation in our flagship reports. Beyond analysis, we work to strengthen data at its source by partnering with agencies, training congressional staff, and advancing efforts to modernize the country’s data systems.

Reports

The USAFacts flagship publications provide clarity and context on complex government operations.

2026 State of the Union

An interactive, data-driven snapshot of the nation — based on topics often covered in the Presidential State of the Union addresses.

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2026 Government 10-K

A comprehensive report on government finances, metrics, and risk factors modeled after the 10-K report businesses file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

America in Facts 2026: A Data-Driven Report for Congress

Nonpartisan insights on the nation’s population, economy, health, and other key policy areas that inform policymaking.

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2026 State of the Facts

Insights from USAFacts polling on how Americans feel about facts, data, and where they can access unbiased information.

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Bringing data to Congress and the public

Legislators need access to high-quality data to understand policy problems and their potential solutions, and that data should be transparent and easy to access for all.

America in Facts

An annual report synthesizing data on the topics most relevant to legislators

Data Skills for Congress

In collaboration with UC Berkeley, a class for Congressional staff to develop their data skills

Testimony on modernizing the Congressional Research Service

We bring our data expertise to Congress, providing evidence-based backing of bipartisan legislation

Effective tax rates

Data brief on effective tax rate trends since passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

Itemized deductions since TCJA

Data brief describing itemized deductions trends since passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

State and local tax (SALT) deduction

Data brief on the SALT deduction designed to inform policymaking

Qualified business income (QBI) deduction

Data brief on the QBI deduction for pass-through entities, established by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

Child Tax Credit (CTC)

Data brief describing CTC trends since the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

Data brief describing the EITC and the distribution of its benefits

The Federal Reserve and the economy

Data brief describing the role of the Fed in monetary policy and the broader economy

Working to improve government data

Federal agencies produce the unbiased, non-partisan data we use to understand our country. USAFacts engages these agencies and other data leaders to support the publication of user-friendly, transparent data, to identify challenges that stand in the way, and to consider the future of government data.

Federal Data Excellence

Standards for publishing user-friendly data and recognizing exemplary work

The White House’s call for AI-ready data

Making government data AI-ready is an imperative step to ensuring that facts continue to guide our country

AI and government data

Helping government agencies modernize data practices for the AI era

Harmonizing state, local and federal data

A report examining opportunities for and obstacles to seamless data exchange across government

Data sources dashboard

We track the update cadence of our most-used datasets and document issues and delays.

Public comment on AI and open data

Our response to the RFI from the Department of Commerce on AI and open data

Questions for the next Fed chair

Questions and resources for Senate deliberations on the nomination of Kevin Warsh to serve as Chair of the Federal Reserve.

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