1. United States
2. Mass.
3. Letter

I am writing as a deeply concerned citizen in response to recent reporting by ProPublica highlighting the Trump administration’s systematic shutdown of federal data tracking systems on critical issues such as drug use, maternal mortality, climate change, and other vital areas of public concern. The deliberate suppression of data—especially in areas that directly affect the health, safety, and well-being of millions of Americans—is not just a threat to transparency; it is a threat to democracy itself. Public policy should be informed by facts and evidence, not shaped in the dark. When the government dismantles or disables systems that monitor our most urgent crises, it prevents lawmakers, researchers, and communities from understanding the full scope of the problems we face, and it undermines our collective ability to address them. Tracking data on drug use helps inform public health strategies in the face of addiction and overdose crises. Monitoring maternal mortality is essential to safeguarding the lives of mothers and infants—particularly given the alarming disparities in maternal outcomes among marginalized communities. And data on climate change is not just scientific; it’s foundational to our national security, economic stability, and global leadership. I urge Congress to take swift action to restore and permanently protect these federal data tracking systems. Please consider legislation that mandates transparency, data integrity, and public accessibility, and ensures that no future administration can dismantle such infrastructure without rigorous oversight. Facts are not partisan. Public health and safety are not political games. The American people deserve better. Thank you for your attention to this critical matter. I trust in your commitment to protecting the integrity of government institutions and to making informed decisions that serve the public good.