Chopra: Open government directive imminent

The Obama administration is weeks away from unveiling a comprehensive open government directive to push agencies toward greater accountability and transparency, Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra said today at a conference.

The directive will lay out a structured schedule for the release of data in a machine-readable format and institute reporting requirements for agencies to describe how they will involve the public in open government initiatives, Chopra said. President Obama instructed administration officials shortly after taking office in January to operate under principles of openness.

More interactive Web-based platforms are in the works, according to Chopra. The Obama administration launched an Internet-based dashboard in June that provides details about every major federal IT project at a single location, including each initiative's goals, schedule, cost outlays, key personnel, and contractors used. The OMB also runs Data.gov, a service that provides the public raw feeds of government information.

An example of the type of accountability the administration wants to see is a program launched today to solicit ideas from employees of the Veterans Affairs Department on how to streamline the processing of disability benefits, Chopra said after his speech. The White House is "betting heavy" on the VA project as a potential early win, Chopra said, adding that he is working with Chief Information Officer Vivek Kundra and top VA officials to implement the best suggestions.

Chopra also noted plans to broaden mechanisms for expert peer review similar to those already in place at the Pentagon and the National Institutes of Health. The White House directive will not tell agencies which platforms to use, he said.

For example, some agencies might wish to tailor their projects to meet specific needs through traditional procurement processes, while others could decide to take advantage of free or low-cost technologies that have been approved for federal use.