# Data.gov MCP for AI Agents AI Agent Connect > Data.gov MCP lets you search and explore over 300,000 federal datasets from agencies like NASA and the EPA. It pulls metadata, download links, and data dictionaries directly into your AI client. You can filter by topic, organization, or specific tags without needing an API key. ## Overview - **Category:** knowledge-management - **Price:** Free - **Endpoint:** https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_XL0EskGwimJcfOAPuiIfCCZsi7qszoFMPMYdY9Ka/ai-agent-connect - **Tags:** open-data, federal-datasets, public-records, data-catalog, research-data ## Description Imagine you need to find specific climate data from the last decade but don't want to spend hours digging through dozens of government websites. With this Connector, you just ask your agent to find the latest EPA greenhouse gas emissions or NASA's satellite imagery. It handles the heavy lifting of navigating the federal catalog for you. Instead of clicking through endless pages of results, you get a summarized list of relevant datasets with direct download links and licensing info. It's a huge time saver for anyone who needs to pull public records for research or app development. Because Vinkius hosts this Connector, you can plug it into your existing workflow and start querying the public domain immediately. It turns a manual search process into a conversation where you can drill down into specific data dictionaries or browse by popular tags like public safety or agriculture. ## Tools ### get_tag Get the name, dataset count, and up to 20 associated datasets for a specific tag. ### search_datasets Search the federal catalog using keywords, organizations, or tags to get titles and download links. ### get_dataset Pull the full description, license info, and data dictionary for a specific dataset ID or name. ### get_group Get the name, description, and published datasets for a specific topic group like climate or health. ### get_organization Retrieve the name, contact info, and published datasets for a specific federal agency. ### get_organization_datasets List all titles, descriptions, and download links for datasets from a specific organization. ### get_status Check the current status and total counts for datasets, organizations, and tags on the Data.gov API. ### get_tag_datasets Fetch all dataset titles, descriptions, and download links associated with a specific tag. ### get_group_datasets Get all dataset titles, descriptions, and download links within a specific topic group. ### list_groups List all topic groups on Data.gov including group names, descriptions, and dataset counts. ### list_organizations List all organizations publishing data on Data.gov with their logos and contact info. ### list_resource_formats See all available download formats like CSV, JSON, and XML across the Data.gov catalog. ### list_tags List all tags used to categorize datasets to help you discover common topics. ## Prompt Examples **Prompt:** ``` Find me some datasets about public health from the CDC. ``` **Response:** ``` I found several datasets from the CDC regarding public health. Here are the top results: | Dataset Title | Organization | Description | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Chronic Disease Surveillance** | CDC | Data on long-term health conditions. | | **Vaccine Coverage** | CDC | Reports on immunization rates. | | **Infectious Disease Trends** | CDC | Weekly updates on seasonal illnesses. | Would you like the download links or a full data dictionary for any of these? ``` **Prompt:** ``` What kind of files does NASA provide for climate data? ``` **Response:** ``` NASA offers several file formats for climate-related data. You can typically find resources in: * **CSV** (for tabular data) * **JSON** (for web-based applications) * **GeoJSON** (for mapping and spatial data) * **Shapefile** (for GIS software) I can pull the specific resource list for a dataset if you'd like to see which ones are currently available. ``` **Prompt:** ``` I need to find all agriculture datasets from the USDA. ``` **Response:** ``` I've pulled the datasets published by the USDA specifically for agriculture: * **Crop Yield Statistics** - Includes annual production data by state. [Download Link] * **Livestock Census** - Detailed counts of livestock populations. [Download Link] * **Soil Health Reports** - Regional data on soil quality and usage. [Download Link] Let me know if you want more details on a specific one! ``` ## Capabilities ### Search 300,000+ federal datasets Find specific government records using keywords, organizations, or tags. ### Get full metadata and download links Retrieve descriptions, licenses, and direct files for any dataset. ### Browse specific agency data See all datasets published by groups like NASA, USDA, or the Census Bureau. ### Filter by topic groups Narrow down results by categories like health, finance, or climate. ### Identify available file formats Check if a dataset is available in CSV, JSON, XML, or Shapefile format. ### Retrieve data dictionaries Get a breakdown of the fields and data types within a specific dataset. ## Use Cases ### Climate research A scientist asks the agent to find all NOAA climate datasets from the last five years. ### App development A developer uses list_resource_formats to see if a specific dataset is available in JSON. ### Journalism A reporter asks for all public safety datasets published by the Department of Justice. ### Education A student looks for student performance data from the Department of Education to use in a project. ## Benefits - Skip the manual search by using search_datasets to find specific government records instantly. - Get direct download links and metadata for datasets without leaving your AI chat interface. - Easily navigate agency data by using list_organizations to see who publishes what. - Quickly understand complex data fields by pulling data dictionaries with get_dataset. - Discover niche data categories using list_tags to find relevant information faster. - Save hours of browsing by pulling all datasets from a specific agency using get_organization_datasets. ## How It Works The bottom line is you get instant access to the US government's open data catalog through a natural chat interface. 1. Subscribe to the Data.gov MCP on the Vinkius Marketplace. 2. Connect the Connector to your AI client like Claude or Cursor. 3. Ask your agent to find datasets, browse organizations, or fetch specific metadata. ## Frequently Asked Questions **Does the Data.gov MCP require an API key?** No, it doesn't. All data is in the public domain, so you can start using it immediately without any registration. **Can I use the Data.gov MCP to find NASA data?** Yes, it can. Your agent can browse NASA's specific organization page to see every dataset they publish. **What kind of file types can I get with the Data.gov MCP?** You can check all available formats using the list_resource_formats tool, which includes CSV, JSON, and Shapefiles. **How does the Data.gov MCP help with research?** It allows you to quickly pull metadata and data dictionaries so you can understand the records before you download them. **Can the Data.gov MCP search for specific topics?** Yes, it can filter by topic groups like finance or public-safety to help you narrow down the 300,000+ datasets. **Is the data from the Data.gov MCP free to use?** Most datasets are in the public domain, but the Connector will pull the specific license info for each one so you can be sure. **Do I need an API key?** No! Data.gov data is public domain and freely accessible. No authentication required. **How many datasets are available?** Data.gov catalogs 300,000+ datasets from over 200 federal agencies including NASA, USDA, EPA, NOAA, Department of Education, Census Bureau and many more. **What organizations publish data?** Over 200 federal agencies including NASA, USDA, EPA, NOAA, Department of Education, Census Bureau, Department of Transportation, FBI, CDC, FDA and many more. **What formats are available?** Common formats: CSV, JSON, XML, Shapefile, GeoJSON, PDF, HTML, RDF, KML, ZIP. Use list_resource_formats to see all available formats.