An internal 95‑page report to the Education secretary recommends major shifts at the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), including a “thorough review” of National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) data collections and potential discontinuation of some surveys. The review says that many collections NCES performs are operational choices, not strictly statutorily required, and calls for refocusing IES on fewer, higher‑value datasets. The review follows deep staff cuts and contract cancellations at IES that left NCES with only a fraction of its prior workforce. Advocates warn the changes could reduce the availability and reliability of widely used datasets that inform state policy, accreditation and institutional planning. Others argue modernization and cost‑effectiveness are overdue. For university assessment offices, state higher‑education agencies and accreditors, the outcomes could mean less frequent or altered data flows on enrollment, workforce, and high‑school outcomes. Institutions should engage the rulemaking and review processes, track proposed modifications to survey schedules, and consider reinforcing internal capacity for outcome tracking if federal datasets narrow.