Policy
In this assignment, you will collect and analyze data about agencies’ performance, using agency reports from Performance.gov. Unfortunately, Performance.gov does not yet have information about current (e.g, Biden administration) agency goals and performance. Instead, we will take a look at agency goals and performance under the Trump and Obama administrations. Follow the instructions below. Scroll to the bottom of the document to see the rubric for how your assignment will be evaluated.
PART ONE – COLLECT DATA ON AGENCY PERFORMANCE
Start by finding archived agency performance data for agencies under the Trump administration: https://trumpadministration.archives.performance.gov/
Click on “agencies”
Scroll to find the Department of Interior
How many “priority goals” are there? List the agencies’ “priority goals” in the table below, along with a short description, following the example given. (Add more rows as needed.)
Find the “Goal Action Plans & Progress Updates” for each goal. Read through the progress made and milestones achieved.
For each goal, add a sentence or two to the table summarizing the agency’s progress toward that goal, following the example given. If it’s not clear exactly what progress was made, just do your best to summarize it.
Now find archived agency performance data for agencies under the Obama administration: https://obamaadministration.archives.performance.gov/
Click on “agencies” and scroll to find Department of Interior
How many “priority goals” were there for FY16-17? Add these priority goals to the table. (Add more rows as needed)
Click on the priority goal and then on Progress Update to find the progress agencies have made toward their goals.
For each goal, add a sentence or two to the table summarizing the agency’s progress toward that goal.
| Trump administration priority goals | Trump administration progress toward goals | Obama administration priority goals | Obama administration progress toward goals |
| Goal 1:
Fulfill Indian Affairs Executive Order by coordinating data sharing and investigating 25 cold cases of missing/murdered Native Americans |
Made progress toward coordinating data sharing by setting up task forces and collecting data. Did not start investigating cases. | ||
Find another agency you are interested in and repeat the same process – find the priority goals and summarize the progress toward those goals for both the Trump and Obama administrations in the table below.
What agency did you choose?
| Trump administration priority goals | Trump administration progress toward goals | Obama administration priority goals | Obama administration progress toward goals |
| Goal 1:
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PART 2: ANALYSIS
Based on the information above, answer the questions below. Your answer to each question should have 2-3 complete sentences. Your answer should be thoughtful – answer the question, providing evidence and examples from the data you collected. Spelling and grammar count.
In what ways did agency goals differ between the Trump and Obama administrations? How do these goals reflect the different political priorities of the two administrations? Provide specific examples.
In what ways were agency goals similar between the Trump and Obama administrations? Why do you think there are some similarities, despite the two administrations’ different political priorities?
Which priority goals saw the most progress (across either administration)? Which saw the least progress?
What kinds of measurements did agencies use to demonstrate progress toward their goals?
Do you find this approach to assessing agency progress toward their goals useful and convincing? Why or why not?