The U.S. Office of Science and Technology Policy released "Innovating the Data Ecosystem: An Update of The Federal Big Data Research and Development Strategic Plan" in November 2024 to enhance the nation’s big data research and development capabilities. The updated plan outlines six strategic areas: improving data reusability and integrity, fostering user-driven data science, strengthening federated ecosystems, prioritizing privacy and ethics, developing diverse talent, and advancing U.S. global leadership. It emphasizes an adaptive data ecosystem spanning the entire data lifecycle, aligned with FAIR and CARE principles, to enable innovation, responsible data sharing, and AI-readiness. The plan highlights the need for robust governance, privacy-preserving technologies, and international and cross-sector collaborations to ensure the U.S. remains a leader in leveraging big data for societal and scientific progress