Geospatial Data Act of 2018
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| Geospatial Data Act of 2018 | |
|---|---|
| Name | Geospatial Data Act of 2018 |
| Enacted by | 115th United States Congress |
| Introduced by | Rep. Bruce Westerman |
| Signed into law by | President Donald Trump |
| Public law | 115-254 |
| Effective date | 2018-10-05 |
Geospatial Data Act of 2018 The Geospatial Data Act of 2018 codified policies for coordination of federal geospatial data and established roles for the Office of Management and Budget, the Federal Geographic Data Committee, and the United States Geological Survey. The statute amended elements of the Digital Government Strategy and incorporated provisions from the National Spatial Data Infrastructure to formalize standards, metadata requirements, and interagency cooperation. The law has been cited in administrative rules, Government Accountability Office reports, and litigation involving proprietary datasets.
Background and legislative history
The act originated in legislative activity during the 114th and 115th Congresses, with hearings in the United States House Committee on Natural Resources and markups involving stakeholders including the Federal Geographic Data Committee and the United States Geological Survey. Sponsors referenced earlier initiatives such as the National Spatial Data Infrastructure and the Executive Order 12906 framework advanced under the Clinton Administration. Congressional deliberations involved testimony from representatives of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Department of the Interior, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and private-sector consortia including the Open Geospatial Consortium and the Association of American Geographers. Bill text revisions were coordinated with staff from the Office of Management and Budget and received bipartisan support before final passage in the 115th Congress and signature by President Donald Trump.
Provisions and requirements
The statute prescribes a governance structure for geospatial data, specifying roles for the Federal Geographic Data Committee, the Interagency Council on Environmental Quality, and the United States Geological Survey as stewarding agencies. It requires creation of a National Geospatial Data Asset portfolio aligned with the National Spatial Data Infrastructure and directs the development of metadata consistent with standards such as those promulgated by the International Organization for Standardization and the Open Geospatial Consortium. The law mandates that federal agencies comply with policies issued by the Office of Management and Budget and submit lifecycle management plans comparable to those used by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Department of Defense for geospatial investments. It also prescribes reporting obligations to oversight entities such as the Government Accountability Office and authorizes coordination with state, local, tribal, and territorial partners including the National Governors Association and the National Congress of American Indians.
Federal agencies and governance
The act formalizes the role of the Federal Geographic Data Committee as the primary interagency body for geospatial coordination and names the Director of the Office of Management and Budget as a central policy authority. The United States Geological Survey is designated to oversee certain data stewardship responsibilities in cooperation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. The statute contemplates interaction with the Department of the Interior, the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, and civilian science agencies such as the National Science Foundation and National Aeronautics and Space Administration to align programmatic geospatial activities. It also establishes mechanisms for engagement with nonfederal entities including the Open Geospatial Consortium, state geographic information offices, and professional societies like the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association.
Data standards, access, and licensing
The law requires federal geospatial data to adhere to consensus-based standards including those developed by the Open Geospatial Consortium and the International Organization for Standardization, and encourages use of metadata profiles compatible with the Federal Geographic Data Committee's guidance. It promotes discoverability through catalog services similar to those used by the Library of Congress and interoperability models employed by Esri and other commercial vendors. The statute addresses accessibility consistent with data policies influenced by the Digital Government Strategy and coordinates licensing considerations alongside intellectual property frameworks adjudicated in courts such as the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and policy guidance from the Office of Management and Budget. It explicitly supports partnerships with state programs administered by entities like the National States Geographic Information Council.
Implementation and compliance
Implementation has involved rulemaking and policy memoranda from the Office of Management and Budget and organizational actions within the United States Geological Survey and the Federal Geographic Data Committee. Agencies developed implementation plans modeled on enterprise data governance used by the Department of Defense and reporting templates referenced by the Government Accountability Office. Compliance reviews and audits have been conducted in coordination with the Inspector General offices of the Department of the Interior and other agencies, and have driven updates to interagency agreements with organizations such as the Open Geospatial Consortium and municipal partners. Grants and cooperative agreements issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the United States Geological Survey were adapted to reflect statutory requirements.
Impact, criticisms, and legal challenges
Supporters from groups including the Open Geospatial Consortium, the Association of American Geographers, and state geographic offices argue the statute improved coordination and clarified stewardship roles comparable to frameworks used by the European Union's INSPIRE directive. Critics including some commercial data providers, academic researchers, and advocacy organizations raised concerns about potential constraints on proprietary licensing models, liability exposure, and bureaucratic overhead comparable to disputes seen in cases before the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the United States Supreme Court. Litigation and administrative challenges have centered on access, fees, and copyright assertions involving datasets, echoing controversies in disputes involving federal datasets and contractors adjudicated by tribunals such as the United States Court of Federal Claims. Ongoing evaluations by the Government Accountability Office and congressional oversight committees continue to assess the statute's effects on federal acquisition, intergovernmental partnerships, and the national geospatial ecosystem.