Check out how Data.gov is making news. You'll also discover stories about Open Government and how Data.gov supports its core principles of transparency, participation and collaboration.


Cuts could close door on 'open government'—Kane County Chronicle

Monday, April 18, 2011

Government transparency advocates warn that spending cuts in the federal budget passed last week could close the door on President Obama's ambitious "open government" goals and hamper efforts to open up federal agencies to closer public scrutiny.


Budget Deals Deep Cuts to Obama Administration's Transparency Sites—Pro Publica Blog

Friday, April 15, 2011

Though the budget deal struck by lawmakers over the weekend averted a shutdown of the federal government, it still has open-government advocates worried about a shutdown of another sort: a shutdown in transparency.


Why the U.S. Should Stand Behind its Commitment to Open Government Data—Mashable Blog

Friday, April 15, 2011

In his inaugural speech, President Barack Obama pledged support for open government initiatives, including the creation of websites that provide access to valuable but not sensitive government data. This initiative promoted transparency, accountability, collaboration and citizen participation by putting government data online. Data.gov was launched in May 2009 as a result, and this incredible site provides nearly 300,000 data sets and almost 1,000 applications developed by government and private enterprise.


Data.gov Clarity—Sunlight Foundation Blog

Thursday, April 14, 2011

We shouldn't be surprised that people are often confused by Data.gov. It is new, and represents something complicated. When the current budget cuts were revealed to include cuts to the e-government fund that supports Data.gov, everyone starting questioning Data.gov's value. Comments have tried to defend, or sometimes to cast doubt on, Data.gov's value, through a few particular lines of question.


House member says he can save feds' transparency websites—Federal Computer Week

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Open-government advocate Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, thinks feds won't have to pull the plug on websites such as Data.gov, USASpending.gov, the IT Dashboard and other federal programs that promote transparency, reports Federal News Radio.


GSA Provides Easier Public Access to Federal Advisory Committee Information—GSA Press Release

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Supporting President Barack Obama’s directive for an open and transparent government, the U.S. General Services Administration today announced that it has launched a new website, www.gsa.gov/efaca, making 10 years of federal advisory committee information easily accessible to the public. Federal advisory committees are committees, boards, commissions, or similar groups established by statute, the president, or agency officials to formulate advice or recommendations on issues or policies within the scope of an agency’s responsibilities.


Congressman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) moves to keep federal government transparency sites such as data.gov running—Federal Computer Week

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Open-government advocate Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, thinks feds won't have to pull the plug on websites such as Data.gov, USASpending.gov, the IT Dashboard and other federal programs that promote transparency, reports Federal News Radio.


Six-month budget slashes e-gov fund by 76 percent—Federal News Radio

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Among the cuts agreed to by lawmakers and President Obama in last Friday's 11th-hour budget compromise to avert a budget shutdown is a dramatic reduction in the administration's E-Government fund, which pays for open government websites such as Data.gov, the IT Dashboard and USASpending.gov.


Transparency websites hit by budget ax—Government Executive.com Blog

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Government transparency websites likely will be scaled back or even eliminated as a result of a 75 percent budget cut that congressional leaders and the White House agreed to last week.


Data.gov et al. Budget Slashed by 75%—ReadWrite Web

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Federal government transparency programs, including data resource directory Data.gov, face across-the-board budget cuts by 75% in the latest version of the federal budget to emerge from Congressional negotiations. According to the Sunlight Foundation, an independent transparency watchdog organization, the "electronic government fund" faces cuts from a $34 million budget down to $8 million.


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