The Open Government Directive Explained

Origins of the Directive

On January 21, 2009, President Obama's first full day in office, he issued a memorandum on Transparency and Open Government. This memorandum directed agencies to embrace transparency, participation, and collaboration as the foundation of an open government. It set the stage for the December 2009 Open Government Directive that would operationalize these principles.

Key Requirements

The Open Government Directive established specific requirements for federal agencies:

• Publish government information online in open formats
• Improve the quality of government information
• Create and institutionalize a culture of open government
• Create an enabling policy framework for open government
• Develop and publish Open Government Plans
• Flag high-value datasets for priority release

Data.gov and Open Data

Impact on Federal Operations

The directive fundamentally changed how agencies approached information management. Chief Information Officers gained new responsibilities for open government. Agencies designated Open Government leads to coordinate transparency efforts. Annual reporting requirements created accountability for progress.

Lasting Legacy

While subsequent administrations have approached open government differently, the directive's institutional changes persist. Data.gov continues to operate and grow. Agency open government infrastructure remains in place. The expectation that government data should be publicly accessible has become normalized.

Lessons Learned

The directive's implementation revealed both possibilities and limitations. Executive action can rapidly change government practices, but sustained commitment requires legislative backing. Cultural change takes longer than policy change. Technology alone cannot achieve transparency without accompanying process reform.