State of the Evidence Act in 2026: Documentation and Designations at CFO Act Agencies

The Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 (Evidence Act) directs federal agencies to plan for, build, and use evidence. This policy brief reviews documentation and designations at the 24 CFO Act agencies as of October 27, 2026, using records in the Data Foundation’s Evidence Act Hub (EvidenceAct.org) and agency websites. Each agency was assessed on five process criteria: an open data plan, a capacity assessment, an evaluation policy, a learning agenda or FY 2027 Evidence Plan, and three designated officials. No agency met all five criteria, and 59 of 120 results (49 percent) met the standard. Twelve of 72 Chief Data Officer, Evaluation Officer, and Statistical Official positions were vacant. Ten agencies had a current learning agenda or FY 2027 Evidence Plan, eight a current capacity assessment, and six a current open data plan. The brief profiles each agency and recommends steps for OMB, agencies, and Congress.