---
kind: "section"
citation: "43 U.S.C. § 2802"
title: "43"
title_heading: "Public Lands"
number: "2802"
heading: "Federal Geographic Data Committee"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/43/2802"
units:
  - "Chapter 46 — Geospatial Data"
---

# §2802. Federal Geographic Data Committee

- (a) **In general—** There is established within the Department of the Interior an interagency [committee](/usc/43/2801.md?p=2) to be known as the Federal Geographic Data [Committee](/usc/43/2801.md?p=2), which shall act as the lead entity in the executive branch for the development, implementation, and review of policies, practices, and standards relating to [geospatial data](/usc/43/2801.md?p=5).
- (b) **Membership—**
  - (1) **Chairperson and Vice Chairperson—** The [Secretary](/usc/43/31b.md?p=7) of the Interior and the [Director](/usc/43/31b.md?p=3) of the Office of Management and Budget shall serve as Chairperson of the [Committee](/usc/43/2801.md?p=2) and Vice Chairperson of the [Committee](/usc/43/2801.md?p=2), respectively.
  - (2) **Other members—**
    - (A) **In general—** The head of each [covered agency](/usc/43/2801.md?p=3) and the [Director](/usc/43/31b.md?p=3) of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency shall each designate a representative of their respective agency to serve as a member of the [Committee](/usc/43/2801.md?p=2).
    - (B) **Requirement for appointments—** An officer appointed to serve as a member of the [Committee](/usc/43/2801.md?p=2) shall hold a position as an assistant [secretary](/usc/43/31b.md?p=7), or an equivalent position, or a higher ranking position.
  - (3) **Guidance—** Not later than 1 year after October 5, 2018, and as needed thereafter, the [Director](/usc/43/31b.md?p=3) of the Office of Management and Budget shall update guidance with respect to membership of the [Committee](/usc/43/2801.md?p=2) and the roles of members of the [Committee](/usc/43/2801.md?p=2).
- (c) **Duties—** The [Committee](/usc/43/2801.md?p=2) shall—
  - (1) lead the development and management of and operational decision making for the [National Spatial Data Infrastructure](/usc/43/2801.md?p=13) strategic plan and [geospatial data](/usc/43/2801.md?p=5) policy in accordance with [section 2804 of this title](/usc/43/2804.md);
  - (2) designate [National Geospatial Data Asset data themes](/usc/43/2801.md?p=12) and oversee the coordinated management of the [National Geospatial Data Asset data themes](/usc/43/2801.md?p=12) in accordance with [section 2805 of this title](/usc/43/2805.md);
  - (3) establish and maintain [geospatial data](/usc/43/2801.md?p=5) standards in accordance with [section 2806 of this title](/usc/43/2806.md);
  - (4) periodically review and determine the extent to which [covered agencies](/usc/43/2801.md?p=3) comply with [geospatial data](/usc/43/2801.md?p=5) standards;
  - (5) ensure that the [GeoPlatform](/usc/43/2801.md?p=4) operates in accordance with [section 2807 of this title](/usc/43/2807.md);
  - (6) direct and facilitate national implementation of the system of [National Geospatial Data Asset data themes](/usc/43/2801.md?p=12);
  - (7) communicate with and foster communication among [covered agencies](/usc/43/2801.md?p=3) and other entities and individuals relating to [geospatial data](/usc/43/2801.md?p=5) technology development, transfer, and exchange in order to—
    - (A) identify and meet the needs of users of [geospatial data](/usc/43/2801.md?p=5);
    - (B) promote cost-effective data collection, documentation, maintenance, distribution, and preservation strategies; and
    - (C) leverage Federal and non-Federal resources, such as promoting Federal shared services and cross-agency coordination for marketplace solutions;
  - (8) define roles and responsibilities and promote and guide cooperation and coordination among agencies of the Federal Government, [State](/usc/43/31b.md?p=8), tribal, and [local governments](/usc/43/2801.md?p=10), institutions of higher education, and the private sector in the collection, production, sharing, and use of geospatial information, the implementation of the [National Spatial Data Infrastructure](/usc/43/2801.md?p=13), and the identification of [proven practices](/usc/43/2801.md?p=14);
  - (9) coordinate with international organizations having an interest in the [National Spatial Data Infrastructure](/usc/43/2801.md?p=13) or global spatial data infrastructures;
  - (10) make available online and update at least annually—
    - (A) a summary of the status for each [National Geospatial Data Asset data theme](/usc/43/2801.md?p=12), based on the report submitted by the applicable [lead covered agency](/usc/43/2801.md?p=9) under [section 2805(b)(3)(E)(ii)(I) of this title](/usc/43/2805.md?p=b-3-E-ii-I), which shall include—
      - (i) an evaluation of the progress of each [lead covered agency](/usc/43/2801.md?p=9) in achieving the requirements under subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), and (D) of [section 2805(b)(3) of this title](/usc/43/2805.md?p=b-3); and
      - (ii) a determination of whether, for each of subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), and (D) of [section 2805(b)(3) of this title](/usc/43/2805.md?p=b-3), each [lead covered agency](/usc/43/2801.md?p=9) meets expectations, has made progress toward expectations, or fails to meet expectations;
    - (B) a summary and evaluation of the achievements of each [covered agency](/usc/43/2801.md?p=3), based on the annual report submitted by the [covered agency](/usc/43/2801.md?p=3) under [section 2808(b)(1) of this title](/usc/43/2808.md?p=b-1), which shall include a determination of whether the [covered agency](/usc/43/2801.md?p=3) meets expectations, has made progress toward expectations, or fails to meet expectations for each of paragraphs (1) through (13) of [section 2808(a) of this title](/usc/43/2808.md?p=a);
    - (C) a collection of periodic technical publications, management articles, and reports related to the [National Spatial Data Infrastructure](/usc/43/2801.md?p=13); and
    - (D) a membership directory for the [Committee](/usc/43/2801.md?p=2), including identifying members of any subcommittee or working group of the [Committee](/usc/43/2801.md?p=2);
  - (11)
    - (A) make available to and request comments from the [Advisory Committee](/usc/43/2801.md?p=1) regarding the summaries and evaluations required under subparagraphs [(A)](#c-10-A) and [(B)](#c-10-B) of paragraph (10);
    - (B) if requested by the [Advisory Committee](/usc/43/2801.md?p=1), respond to any comments by the [Advisory Committee](/usc/43/2801.md?p=1); and
    - (C) not less than once every 2 years, submit to Congress a report that includes the summaries and evaluations required under subparagraphs [(A)](#c-10-A) and [(B)](#c-10-B) of paragraph (10), the comments of the [Advisory Committee](/usc/43/2801.md?p=1), and the responses of the [Committee](/usc/43/2801.md?p=2) to the comments;
  - (12)
    - (A) make available to and request comments from [covered agencies](/usc/43/2801.md?p=3) regarding the summaries and evaluations required under subparagraphs [(A)](#c-10-A) and [(B)](#c-10-B) of paragraph (10); and
    - (B) not less than once every 2 years, submit to Congress a report that includes the comments of the [covered agencies](/usc/43/2801.md?p=3) and the responses of the [Committee](/usc/43/2801.md?p=2) to the comments; and
  - (13) support and promote the infrastructure of networks, systems, services, and standards that provide a digital representation of the Earth to users for many applications.
- (d) **Staff support—** The [Committee](/usc/43/2801.md?p=2) shall establish an Office of the Secretariat within the Department of the Interior to provide administrative support, strategic planning, funding, and technical support to the [Committee](/usc/43/2801.md?p=2).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 115–254, div. B, title VII, § 753, Oct. 5, 2018, 132 Stat. 3415.)