Details
Post-event Update: See below for a recap of this event, the recording and numerous resources. Then get involved!
Join an open discussion hosted by our US Public Sector Forum where we will unpack the multi-faceted data challenges facing government agencies, as well as those organizations which serve them. From implementing the FDTA to addressing the requirements from June’s AI Executive Order and OMB M-25-06 outlining “zero trust” data architecture and AI deployment governance, these mandates require the same foundation: a governed, trusted, machine-readable data environment. But how is this best achieved?
Join us to discuss:
- How are today’s government agencies activating these initiatives? What are the lessons learned so far?
- Are government employees and contractors educated in the requirements and how to fulfill them?
- What tools and technology are critical to accelerating compliance with these orders?
- Is DCAM (Data Management Capability Assessment Model) being adopted effectively to accelerate data management best practices in support of these requirements?
- What is the role of LEI (Legal Entity Identifier) and ontologies, such as FIBO (Financial Industry Business Ontology), in meeting these requirements?
This event is designed to be interactive and conversational in nature, allowing participants to ask questions and share their own perspectives. It is targeted in particular to federal government data leaders, CDOs, practitioners and their solution partners – all are welcome.
Speakers
Post-event summary
Thank you to everyone who joined our US Public Sector Forum Discussion on July 15, 2026, on the data governance requirements behind today’s federal mandates, including the Financial Data Transparency Act (FDTA) and recent AI Executive Orders. Below is a recap for those who attended and for anyone who was not able to join the full session.
Speakers
- Alex Izotic – Manager, Data Excellence and Partner Programs, EDM Association (Moderator)
- John Bottega – President, EDM Association; former CDO for the US Department of the Treasury
- David Blaszkowsky – Product Director, FIBO; former U.S. SEC and Department of the Treasury
- Peter Warms – Head of Business Development, North America, GLEIF
Overview
The session brought together experts from EDM Association, GLEIF, and the US Public Sector Forum community to discuss data interoperability standards and how they support agencies working to meet the FDTA, AI Executive Orders, and related federal data mandates. The conversation covered data management and standards lessons learned from history, the current status of FDTA implementation, and how frameworks like DCAM and CDMC can help agencies get there faster.
Why Data Standards Matter: Lessons from the 2008 Financial Crisis
John Bottega, President of EDM Association, opened with historical context on why data standards matter, drawing a direct line to the 2008 financial crisis. He described how complex mortgage instruments and the collapse of Lehman Brothers exposed broken data supply chains, missing linkages between systems, and an inability to properly identify counterparties and assess risk. The core lesson: data standards have to work in conjunction with strong data management practices, not as a substitute for them.
Federal Mandates and the Case for Interoperability
Alex Izotic and John Bottega walked through the federal mandates driving this conversation, including the FDTA, recent AI Executive Orders, and the establishment of the Federal CDO Council. They discussed how EDM Association’s expanded capabilities, including the 2025 acquisition of the Object Management Group (OMG), now support these mandates through consortia spanning data and analytics, standards development, digital twins. and augmented reality. A recurring theme: trust in data is a prerequisite for responsible AI adoption, not an afterthought.
DCAM and CDMC: Frameworks for Data Management and Cloud Readiness
John Bottega presented EDM Association’s core frameworks: DCAM (Data Management Capability Assessment Model) and CDMC (Cloud Data Management Capabilities Model). He highlighted their adoption by organizations including the US Federal Reserve System and its Office of Inspector General. DCAM focuses on data management capability broadly, while CDMC addresses cloud-specific data management requirements. Both frameworks are now being converted into semantic ontologies to support automation.
Alex also introduced the 2026 Global Data Management Benchmark Report, which surveyed 435 organizations across more than 50 countries, and flagged an active working group extending CDMC for AI.
FIBO: A Common Vocabulary for Financial Data
David Blaszkowsky introduced the Financial Industry Business Ontology (FIBO), an open-source, machine-readable ontology containing more than 3,000 concepts and 10,000 terms. FIBO provides a common vocabulary and metadata structure for financial services concepts, enabling greater interoperability across agencies and institutions, and is particularly valuable as a foundation for AI applications that depend on well-structured, unambiguous data.
LEI and the FDTA
Peter Warms of GLEIF explained the Legal Entity Identifier (LEI), which is directly referenced in the FDTA. GLEIF maintains the global LEI system, with 3.4 million identifiers issued to date, and LEIs are now referenced in more than 200 regulations worldwide. The LEI gives agencies a standardized, trusted way to identify legal entities across systems, a foundational building block for the machine-readable data environments the FDTA calls for.
Implementation in Practice: A State Perspective
The panel closed with a discussion of how agencies are putting these frameworks into practice. Indiana Management Performance Hub (MPH) shared their team’s experience adopting DCAM across the State of Indiana, noting that while the framework itself has been valuable, the larger challenge has been shifting mindsets: moving teams away from business-as-usual thinking and toward sustained data governance practices. (Read the case study featuring the State of Indiana MPH’s journey with DCAM and the Data Excellence Program.)
Resources & How to Get Involved
- Session Recording and Presentation (PDF)
- One-Page Resource – Meeting the Financial Data Transparency Act: How the EDM Association helps agencies achieve mission success
- DCAM, CDMC, FIBO, Benchmarking, Data Asset Foundations
- Legal Entity Identifier (LEI)
- Read the “linchpin” paper, “Creating a Linchpin for Financial Data: The Need for a Legal Entity Identifier,” co-authored by John Bottega and Linda Powell
- Evaluation Report (2023-MO-B-001) Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System: The Board Can Enhance Enterprise Practices for Data Management Roles and Responsibilities
Further Discussion
- Article by Peter Warms, GLEIF – The LEI in U.S. Law: What the FDTA Final Joint Rule Means
- Article by Ashley Nelle-Davis, Data Foundation – Final FDTA Rule Lays Foundation for Modernized Financial Data, but Successful Implementation is Key
- Case Study Unlocking New Potential for the State of Indiana with DCAM Indiana MPH and DWD’s strategic approach to advancing data management
- Government Technology: Arizona Takes ‘First-in-Nation’ Approach to Data Readiness
Ways to Stay Involved
- Join the US Public Sector Forum community on EDMConnect to continue the discussion
- Consider joining the FIBO Working Group, which is restarting and welcomes new participants
- U.S. Public Sector Forum Meeting Feedback Survey
- Reach out to Alex Izotic directly to schedule an individual follow-up conversation.
