OpenTheGovernment.org - Let's Reverse the Pattern of Secrecy

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Let's Reverse the Pattern of Secrecy

Concerned that our government keeps from the American public information that we need to make our families safe, secure our country and strengthen democracy, a broad-based set of organizations formed OpenTheGovernment.org. We hope you'll help.

Read our 2009 Year End Report.

Read our 2010- 2012 Strategic Plan.

Evaluating Open Government

The Open Government Directive required agencies to develop and publish Open Government Plans by April 7th. OpenTheGovernment.org, our partners, and others used the requirements in the Directive to evaluate the strength of the Open Government Plans.

Our initial audit found that many of the Open Government Plans produced by the agencies failed to fulfill the basic requirements outlined in the OGD. In light of the ample room for improvement, OpenTheGovernment.org invited revisions to the plans by June 25 for re-evaluation.

On June 20, the coalition released the updated results, and an updated ranking of the plans, from strongest to weakest. The updated results also include evaluations of plans created by agencies that were not required to do so, but did anyway.

Read our press release here

Later this year, we will begin evaluating the implementation of open government in the agencies.

Policy and News Updates for August 31, 2010

News from Coalition Partners & Others
Annual Secrecy Report Card Coming Soon
National Archives and Records Administration Records Management Update
New Resources and Information Available on OGIS Website

Follow OpenTheGovernment.org's Latest Efforts to Make the Federal Government More Open

As part of the effort to make the federal government a more open place, OpenTheGovernment.org works with our coalition partners and other advocates to highlight important issues and correct systemic problems. Keep up with our latest:
- Reports;
- Letters; and
- Testimony.
OpenTheGovernment.org, Partners, Call for Hearings on Unlawful Destruction of Federal Email Records

On March 10th, OpenTheGovernment.org and 45 organizations concerned with transparency and accountability sent a letter to the Information Policy Subcommittees in the Senate and House to hold hearings on the apparent destruction of emails in the Department of Justice to determine how the e-mails could be missing despite the requirements of the Federal Records Act (FRA), and if the FRA needs further strengthening.

Watch the video HERE
Click on the links for OpenTheGovernment.org's Sunshine Week program and for a hand-out, "The White House on Transparency." For details, including a full list of panelists, click here.

2009 Secrecy Report Card

On Tuesday, September 9,2009, OpenTheGovernment.org released the 2009 Secrecy Report Card. Read the press release here. Also, download the FOIA Risk Assessment Chart, an assessment of changes in FOIA practices by the Bush and Obama Administrations, and the expanded fiscal transparency section.

Government Secrecy: Decisions Without Democracy Available for Purchase
See our Reports page.

OpenTheGovernment.org Analysis of Congressional Initiatives to Improve Information Sharing and Reduce Unnecessary Over-classification

For more information:
(202) 332-OPEN (6736)
Email: info at openthegovernment.org