State chief data officers often lack funding, authority, survey finds
While more states are embracing data-driven governance, many chief data officers still struggle with limited resources and weak institutional power, according to a new survey of state CDOs.
Most state CDO offices operate with budgets of less than $1 million and manage small teams, yet are expected to coordinate data strategies across agencies, according to a report published Wednesday by the National Association of State Chief Information Officers and the Beeck Center for Social Impact and Innovation at Georgetown University.
“We don’t have enough authority to make agencies comply,” one anonymous state CDO is quoted as saying in the report.
According to the report, states are increasingly rolling out digital services that use health, education and workforce data, and their success may hinge on how well CDOs can operate at the intersection of policy, technology and public trust.
Twenty-seven states have chief data officer or equivalent positions.
The survey also found that confusion over the scope of state CDOs remains a hurdle. In many states, the role lacks clear authority or backing from the executive branch, which can impede efforts to bridge disparate systems or enforce data standards.
“We are constantly battling skepticism about data-sharing concerns over misuse, slowing every project,” another state respondent told researchers.
Many CDOs reported challenges around data privacy, workforce capacity and creating trust in how government uses data, reflecting tension between innovation and accountability.
“We must move fast, but not so fast we break public confidence,” another CDO is quoted as saying in the report.
Still, the survey’s findings signal momentum. More states view chief data officers as partners and many state CDOs are reportedly attempting to elevate their influence.
