White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Peter Orzag today released an open government directive in response to a January 2009 presidential memorandum on government openness and transparency. The memo asked the White House chief technology officer and the OMB director to develop an open government directive within 120 days based on the principles that government should be transparent, participatory and collaborative. The directive is available online (pdf).                                                                                                                                            
Below is a statement by Francesca Grifo, senior scientist and director of the Union of Concerned Scientists' Scientific Integrity Program:

"The Obama administration did a great job soliciting public input and proposed a number of excellent ideas for improving openness and accountability in government, but many crucial elements of a comprehensive reform plan are still in process."

"How can OMB institutionalize openness and accountability? By requiring agencies to include several provisions in their plans: First, the federal government should direct agencies to allow scientists to communicate their research and analyses with the press. Second, agencies should improve public access to scientific research by making it easier for government scientists to publish their research results. Third, agencies should follow the lead of the White House and increase public disclosure of meetings agency officials have with people outside the government.

"I am encouraged that the administration recognizes that openness needs to be part of the core DNA of all agency operations. It's even more important for the forthcoming directives on regulatory reform and scientific integrity to include specific and significant steps that promote openness and accountability.

"We look forward to working with the administration to adopt the necessary reforms for transformational change."