Open government

FILE - Attorney General Merrick Garland listens during a meeting of the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force at the Justice Department, March 10, 2022 in Washington. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Garland on Wednesday, March 16, for the first time convened a multilateral task force known as REPO, short for Russian Elites, Proxies and Oligarchs, one of several new efforts dedicated to enforcing sanctions against Russian oligarchs over the war in Ukraine. (Kevin Lamarque/Pool via AP, File)

Garland issues new FOIA guidance as lawmakers seek GAO study of agency challenges

The new guidance emphasizes a “presumption of openness,” but agencies continue to struggle to process FOIA requests and make a dent in the backlog.

Agency Oversight

(Jim Watson/Pool via AP)

Committee chairwoman Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-New York, speaks during a House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing on

New House bill attempts to make presidential records more easily searchable

Open Data/Transparency

The Capitol is seen as the partial government shutdown lurches into a third week with President Donald Trump standing firm in his border wall funding demands, in Washington, Monday, Jan. 7, 2019. After no weekend breakthrough to end a prolonged shutdown, newly empowered House Democrats are planning to step up pressure on Trump and Republican lawmakers to reopen the government. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

White House hints at Federal Data Strategy, OPEN Govt Data Act, in open-government strategy

Technology

Air Force carpet bombs public affairs

Tom Temin Commentary

Chris O’Neil: How public affairs officers communicate

Federal Drive

Congress inches to modern tech

Tom Temin Commentary

Patricia Lake

Press sweats over covering Trump

Tom Temin Commentary

Alex Howard: Making presidential transition more transparent

Federal Drive

Sean Moulton: New report looks at progress toward more open government

Federal Drive

New DoJ training reinforces the shared responsibility of FOIA

Management

Congress fails to revise FOIA despite bipartisan support

Congress

White House crowdsources open-government playbook

In writing a new tipsheet for agencies about engaging the public, the White House is practicing what it’s preaching.

Technology

Recipe for a successful DATA Act is part collaboration, part oversight

OMB and Treasury are creating a roadmap on how to move forward with DATA Act implementation over the next 12 to 36 months. Meanwhile, congressional and…

Congress

Jill James, Director of ED.gov, Education Department

Federal Drive

The Education Department has two ambitious goals to reach by 2020: see the U.S. become the nation with the highest percentage of college graduates in the world, and see low income and minority students find the same successes as their peers in graduating from high school and having access to college education. The department’s Open Government Plan is key to achieving these goals. Jill James is director of ED.gov in the Office of Communications and Outreach. She joined Tom Temin on the Federal Drive…