• DATA
  • AGENCY
  • TOPICS
  • HUMAN

How to find federal datasets with your AI

Connect this MCP to your AI client once. From there, your agent handles the searching through the Data.gov catalog.

Ask AI about this page

Short answer

How can I use my AI to find government data?

Your agent queries the Data.gov catalog directly using keywords, agency names, or trending topics. You'll get specific dataset metadata and organization details. Here is how the process works.

The results you get

Where your data lands

The agent translates your questions into catalog searches.

DATA

Specific datasets

The agent finds datasets matching your keywords. You get the metadata and direct links to the information.

AGENCY

Organization lists

The agent identifies which federal agencies host the data you need. This helps you narrow your search scope.

TOPICS

Trending subjects

The agent pulls current trending keywords from the catalog. This shows you what topics are currently active in the federal space.

HUMAN

Your final selection

The AI presents the findings, but you decide which datasets are actually worth downloading or analyzing.

The workflow

What your AI does when you ask for data.

The agent moves from broad discovery to specific dataset identification.

  1. Identify agencies

    The agent looks up the specific federal organizations that manage data relevant to your request.

    get_organizations

  2. Find trending topics

    The agent checks what subjects are currently popular within the federal catalog to suggest relevant areas of study.

    get_keywords

  3. Execute searches

    The agent runs precise queries against the catalog using your specific keywords or agency filters.

    search_datasets

  4. Filter results

    The agent refines the search results to ensure the datasets found match your specific criteria.

    search_datasets

Try it

Copy these to start.

Use these prompts to begin your search immediately.

Starting points

Replace the bracketed text with the specific agency or topic you want to find.

Data.gov Connector

You're all set. Choose your MCP client and follow the setup instructions.

Connector linkhttps://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_f564VZunubaqnMfft1dIIxySnAafP9NKhpaI9WS5/mcp

Claude Desktop

Follow the steps below to connect in seconds.

  1. 1In Claude Desktop, open Settings → Connectors.
  2. 2Click “Add custom connector” and paste the connector link above as the remote MCP server URL.
  3. 3Click Add and start a new chat — Data.gov capabilities are ready to use.
Configuration · claude_desktop_config.jsonCopy
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "datagov-catalog-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_f564VZunubaqnMfft1dIIxySnAafP9NKhpaI9WS5/mcp"
    }
  }
}
Copy into chat04

  • Find all datasets related to [climate change] in the Data.gov catalog.

  • Which federal agencies provide data on [agriculture]?

  • Show me the trending keywords currently being searched on Data.gov.

  • Search for datasets published by the [Department of Energy].

  • Claude
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Start here

Connect Data.gov Catalog once, then ask.

One link connects the MCP to your AI client. Your login stays encrypted on our side, and you can start searching immediately.

Connect Data.gov Catalog to your AI

FAQ

How this task behaves

  • 01

    Can the AI download the files for me?

    No. The agent finds the datasets and provides the metadata and links, but you must download the files yourself.

  • 02

    Can the AI change or delete federal data?

    No. This MCP is read-only. It can only search and retrieve information from the catalog.

  • 03

    Does it search every government website?

    No. It only searches the Data.gov catalog.

  • 04

    Can I ask for data from a specific agency?

    Yes. You can ask the agent to filter searches by specific federal organizations.

  • 05

    Can the AI create new datasets in the catalog?

    No. The agent can only find existing data; it cannot upload or create new entries.

  • More questions about Data.gov Catalog? The Connector page answers them. See everything the Data.gov Catalog Connector can do

Connect Data.gov to Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT & more