Open Government Directive

The White House published The Open Government Directive (PDF) “to direct executive departments and agencies to take specific actions to implement the principles of transparency, participation, and collaboration” in order to respect “the presumption of openness.”

The memo asserts these principles “form the cornerstone of an open government” and elaborates on the value of each:

Transparency

“promotes accountability by providing the public with information about what the Government is doing.”

Participation

“allows members of the public to contribute ideas and expertise so that their government can make policies with the benefit of information that is widely dispersed in society.”

Collaboration

“improves the effectiveness of Government by encouraging partnerships and cooperation within the Federal Government, across levels of government, and between the Government and private institutions.”

The Directive provides a clear timeline with deadlines for action to be taken by each agency. Key milestones include, but are not limited to, the following:

45 days

identify and publish online in an open format at least three high-value data sets … and register those data sets via Data.gov. These must be data sets not previously available online or in a downloadable format.

60 days

create an Open Government Webpage located at http://www.[agency].gov/open to serve as the gateway for agency activities related to the Open Government Directive and maintain and update that webpage in a timely fashion.

120 days

publish an agency-wide open government plan that will describe and enforce transparency initiatives and will improve public participation and accountability.

The section headings of the Directive provide a clear outline of the document:

1. Publish Government Information Online
2. Improve the Quality of Government Information
3. Create and Institutionalize a Culture of Open Government
4. Create an Enabling Policy Framework

Each section is increasingly inspiring. The first is a given. The second, in addition to being the goal of this blog, speaks to the ever-present need for government to strive to improve its level of service. The third section is novel and lofty as it strives to effect sweeping change across the Federal government in a qualitative way, calling for “lasting change in the way that Government works.” The fourth section provides the structure necessary for success in any large enterprise. To achieve these goals, the six-page memo is followed by a five-page Open Government Plan containing strategies to implement the Directive.

Norm Eisen and Beth Noveck elaborated on the importance of the Open Government Initiative in a blog post titled “Why an Open Government Matters”:

This new degree of openness is enabled in part by 21st century technology, which makes it possible for government to open its doors and databases more than ever before. From online listening tours and chats to web-based brainstorming by government officials with the American public, the White House and federal agencies are opening up the way they work to improve accountability in government and deepen our democracy.

But creating an open government – one that is committed to transparency and civic engagement – does more than promote accountability. Working in the open fosters collaboration between government, private industry, and the public to improve the lives of Americans in their communities.

Right in line with the principle of transparency is the Milestones page of the Open Government Initiative section of the White House site that highlights progress made by various agencies.

While I’m sure we all agree with the spirit of the Initiative, what challenges do you see in implementing this plan?