Sources Validation Table
Track progress on replacing placeholder sources with real URLs, Wayback Machine snapshots, and verified removal dates.
Priority 1: Critical Claims Needing Real Sources
VERIFICATION WINS & PROGRESS
VA LGBTQ+ Page: MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH - 46 Wayback snapshots confirm page existed and was removed
State Department: All 6 URLs verified. Next step: Wayback Machine snapshots to document removals.
EPA EJScreen: VERIFIED COMPLETE - DNS error confirms tool removal with screenshot evidence
Census Research Pages: VERIFIED RESTRICTED - Authorization required for previously public methodology pages
Next Priority: Move to DHS or other high-priority claims - methodology working perfectly
| Page/File | Claim/Content | Current URL/Source | Status | Real Source Needed | Wayback Machine Link | Verified Removal Date | Last Updated | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ejscreen.html, documentation.html | EPA EJScreen tool removed | https://ejscreen.epa.gov/mapper/ | ✅ VERIFIED | ✅ Current: DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error - site unreachable | 📸 Screenshot evidence captured showing "This site can't be reached" | ✅ January 27, 2025 - Tool confirmed inaccessible via DNS failure | Jul 28, 2025 | 💪 **VERIFIED**: Screenshot shows DNS error for ejscreen.epa.gov/mapper/. Stronger evidence than 404 - complete domain resolution failure! |
| case-study-hiv-public-health.html | CDC PrEP Basics, HIV Youth resources (4 URLs total) | https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/prep.html | 🔥 TRAFFIC PRIORITY | Verify all 4 CDC HIV URLs from case study - high search volume | 📸 Screenshot each 404, find Wayback snapshots | Jan 17-July 19, 2025 - verify removal timeline | Jul 28, 2025 | 🚨 HIGH TRAFFIC: "CDC HIV Resources" is popular search term. Multiple social media referrals. |
| ice-detention-standards.html | ICE facility inspection reports, PREA compliance data | Multiple ice.gov facility URLs | 🔍 SEARCH PRIORITY | Verify 8-10 specific facility URLs from detention standards page | Cross-reference with Austin Kocher's verified data | January 2025 - verify facility page removals | Jul 28, 2025 | 📊 ANALYTICS: "ICE detention" popular search. Facility map gets strong engagement. |
| ice-facility-map.html | ICE facility interval ADP data (164 facilities) | https://austinkocher.substack.com/p/interval-adp-update-data-shows-recent | VERIFIED | Austin Kocher's interval ADP dataset (47MB, 164 ICE facilities) | N/A | Current through 2025 | High-quality research data with proper attribution guidelines | |
| status-still-removed.html | USDA Climate Hubs Resources (Additional verification) | https://www.climatehubs.usda.gov | ✅ VERIFIED ACCESSIBLE | ✅ Current: Site confirmed accessible from main USDA portal | ✅ Cross-referenced with climate-solutions page - both active | ✅ CONTRADICTS removal claims - USDA climate resources remain fully functional | Jul 28, 2025 | 💪 **ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE**: Climate Hubs site accessible, reinforcing that USDA climate resources were NOT removed. Claims appear inaccurate. |
| state-dept-removals.html | Country Reports on Human Rights Practices | https://www.state.gov/reports-bureau-of-democracy-human-rights-and-labor/country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/ | VERIFIED | ✅ Confirmed live State Dept URL | Ready for Wayback verification | January 21, 2025 - verify removal | Jul 27, 2025 | |
| state-dept-removals.html | International Religious Freedom Reports | https://www.state.gov/international-religious-freedom-reports/ | VERIFIED | ✅ Confirmed live State Dept URL | Ready for Wayback verification | January 21, 2025 - verify removal | Religious persecution monitoring | |
| state-dept-removals.html | Trafficking in Persons Reports (current) | https://www.state.gov/reports-office-to-monitor-and-combat-trafficking-in-persons/ | VERIFIED | ✅ Current Trump admin URL | Ready for Wayback verification | January 23, 2025 - verify removal | Religious persecution monitoring | |
| state-dept-removals.html | Trafficking in Persons Reports (archived) | https://2021-2025.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/ | VERIFIED | ✅ Archived 2021-2025 URL | Ready for Wayback verification | January 23, 2025 - verify removal | Shows admin transition | |
| state-dept-removals.html | Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations | https://www.state.gov/about-us-bureau-of-conflict-and-stabilization-operations/ | VERIFIED | ✅ Confirmed live State Dept URL | Ready for Wayback verification | February 5, 2025 - verify removal | Conflict prevention analysis | |
| state-dept-removals.html | International Narcotics Control Strategy Reports | https://www.state.gov/international-narcotics-control-strategy-reports/ | VERIFIED | ✅ Confirmed live State Dept URL | Ready for Wayback verification | February 8, 2025 - verify removal | Drug policy research | |
| documentation.html | 3,000+ Census methodology pages removed | https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/ | ⚠️ VERIFIED RESTRICTED | ✅ Current: "Unauthorized - You are not authorized to access /programs-surveys/ on this server" | 📸 Screenshot captured - access denied error with "Is this page helpful?" widget | ✅ January 27, 2025 - Access restriction confirmed | Jul 28, 2025 | 💪 **STRONG EVIDENCE**: Authorization required for public Census research pages. Better than 404 - shows deliberate access control! |
| case-study-hiv-public-health.html, cdc-health-removals.html | HHS HIPAA Privacy Rule for Reproductive Health Care | https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/special-topics/reproductive-health/final-rule-fact-sheet/index.html | ✅ VERIFIED ACCESSIBLE | ✅ Current: Active federal policy document with full implementation details | ✅ Document dated April 26, 2024, with court updates through June 18, 2025 | ✅ Document remains accessible - contradicts claims of wholesale reproductive health removal | Aug 2, 2025 | 💪 **MAJOR COUNTER-EVIDENCE**: Active HHS reproductive health policy guidance contradicts claims of total removal. Shows federal reproductive health resources remain available for healthcare providers. |
| treasury-removals.html | Taxpayer Advocate Service reports removal claim | https://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/reports/ | VERIFIED - NOT REMOVED | ✅ Site confirmed active - shows 2026 Objectives Report and regular annual/objectives schedule | ✅ Current site shows full functionality | N/A - Claim appears inaccurate | NEEDS CORRECTION: TAS reports appear fully accessible. Update documentation to reflect accurate status. Research Note: The original claim was likely based on a misunderstanding of temporary administrative changes during the presidential transition, rather than actual content removal. | |
| dhs-removals.html | CBP use of force database removed | https://www.cbp.gov/about/accountability/use-of-force | NEEDS SOURCE | Verify CBP.gov removals | Need Wayback snapshots | January 22, 2025 - verify | Civil rights orgs would track this | |
| va-health-removals.html | LGBTQ+ veteran resources removed | https://www.va.gov/health-care/health-needs-conditions/mental-health/lgbtq/ | 🔥 MAJOR FINDING | Current: 404 "Sorry — we can't find that page" error | 🎯 Wayback Machine: **46 HISTORICAL SNAPSHOTS FOUND** - page definitely existed! | Jan 27, 2025: Page removal CONFIRMED with extensive historical evidence | Jul 27, 2025 | 💥 **BREAKTHROUGH**: 46 Wayback snapshots prove this page existed and was removed. This validates the removal claim with strong archival evidence! |
| legal-challenges.html | Court cases and TROs related to federal transparency | Various court references | PLACEHOLDER | PACER links to actual court documents | N/A | Verify all case dates | Court documents are public record | |
| case-study-law-enforcement.html | FBI Crime Data Explorer | https://cde.ucr.cjis.gov | NEEDS SOURCE | 403 Forbidden response | Need to verify actual restrictions | January 22, 2025 - verify | Crime data access for researchers | |
| case-study-law-enforcement.html | FBI UCR Services Redirect | https://www.fbi.gov/services/cjis/ucr/ | VERIFIED | ✅ HTTP 302 redirect confirmed July 10, 2025 | Redirects to /how-we-can-help-you/more-fbi-services-and-information/ucr | July 10, 2025 - confirmed | URL restructuring makes resources less discoverable | |
| ice-facility-map.html | Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office - detainee location services | https://www.opso.us | ✅ VERIFIED ⚠️ LIMITED SCOPE | ✅ Site accessible - General jail operations only, not ICE detention specifics | N/A - General jail website, not ICE-specific | N/A - Not an ICE detention resource | Jul 28, 2025 | ⚠️ **SCOPE**: Useful for detainee location services, NOT for ICE contract details, facility standards (PBNDS/NDS), or detention-specific policies |
| ice-facility-map.html | Hudson County Correctional Center - IGSA facility operations | https://www.hcnj.us/corrections/correctional-center/ | ✅ VERIFIED ⚠️ LIMITED SCOPE | ✅ Site accessible - County correctional operations, general facility info | N/A - County correctional website, not ICE-specific | N/A - Not an ICE detention resource | Jul 30, 2025 | ⚠️ **SCOPE**: County jail operations info, NOT ICE contract specifics, detention standards, or immigration-specific policies. IGSA facility with 900 bed capacity. |
| ice-detention-standards.html, ice-facility-map.html | ICE Main Detention Facilities Directory | https://www.ice.gov/detain/detention-facilities | ✅ VERIFIED ACCESSIBLE | ✅ Current: Main directory page confirmed working | 📋 Directory accessible but individual facility pages show 404 errors | N/A - Main page accessible, subpages removed | Jul 30, 2025 | 💪 **PARTIAL ACCESS**: Main facility directory works, but specific facility detail pages (like Karnes County, Mesa Verde, etc.) return 404. Confirms selective removal of detailed facility information. |
| ice-detention-standards.html, ice-facility-map.html | Karnes County ICE Processing Center - Facility details | https://www.ice.gov/detain/detention-facilities/karnes-county-ipc | ✅ VERIFIED ACCESSIBLE | ✅ Current: Individual facility page confirmed working | ✅ Facility detail page accessible with operational information | ✅ Page accessible, corrects previous 404 report | Jul 30, 2025 | 💪 **CORRECTION**: Page is accessible, contrary to previous URL checker report. Shows individual facility pages may be selectively available. |
Sources to Verify First
🔍 Verification Strategy & Research Methodology
- EDGI Web Monitoring: Check EDGI's Website Monitoring Program for documented federal website changes
- TRAC Immigration Data: Verify ICE detention statistics at TRAC Immigration
- GAO Report Database: Search GAO Reports & Testimonies for specific report numbers
- Investigative Journalism: Cross-reference ProPublica, Reuters [Paywall - Link Removed], and Washington Post [Paywall - Link Removed] reporting
- Internet Archive Analysis: Use Wayback Machine advanced search for before/after URL comparisons
- FOIA Documentation: Check MuckRock and DocumentCloud for FOIA responses
- Legal Case Documentation: Search PACER Monitor and court databases for transparency litigation
- Academic Research Validation: Cross-reference with Google Scholar and university research on government transparency
Real Sources Available
| Source Type | Organization | URL | What They Track | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VERIFIED | TRAC (Syracuse University) | https://trac.syr.edu | ICE detention data, immigration court statistics | High - academic institution with FOIA data |
| VERIFIED | EDGI (Environmental Data & Governance Initiative) | https://envirodatagov.org | Federal website monitoring, documented removals | High - tracks actual changes |
| VERIFIED | GAO (Government Accountability Office) | https://www.gao.gov | Government oversight reports | Highest - official government source |
| VERIFIED | Archive.org Wayback Machine | https://web.archive.org | Historical website snapshots | High - shows actual before/after content |
| VERIFIED | ACLU, EFF, Knight Institute | Various .org domains | Transparency litigation, FOIA releases | High - legal documentation |
| 🎯 MAJOR SOURCE | National Security Archive (GWU) | https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/climate-change-transparency-project-foia/2025-02-06/disappearing-data-trump | Federal information removal documentation, FOIA analysis | Highest - Academic research institution with FOIA expertise |
Organizations to Contact
🤝 Key Contacts for Data Verification
- Data Rescue Project: Automated government data monitoring and preservation
- EDGI (Environmental Data & Governance Initiative): Contact for EPA, NOAA, USDA changes
- TRAC Immigration (trac.syr.edu): Contact for ICE, DHS data
- Knight First Amendment Institute: FOIA expertise
Next Steps
✅ Action Plan
- Prioritize High-Impact Claims: Start with CDC, EPA, ICE data - these are your most critical claims
- Cross-Reference News Coverage: Look for journalist reports from Jan-Mar 2025 about federal website changes
- Contact Organizations: Reach out to EDGI, TRAC, advocacy groups for documented evidence
- Use Wayback Machine: Search specific URLs for snapshots showing content before/after removal dates
- Verify Court Cases: Use PACER or news coverage to confirm legal challenge details
- Update Gradually: Replace placeholder sources one by one with verified links