Open Government Efforts at DoD

Responding to the President's challenge to create and institutionalize a culture of Open Government, DoD established a governance structure that includes Senior Leadership and representatives from across the DoD Components  to develop and implement an unprecedented and sustained level of openness and accountability at all levels of the Department.

DoD Goals for Open Government Implementation

DoD has developed the following goals to guide its Open Government implementation efforts:

  • Increase Department transparency and accountability to external stakeholders
  • Improve internal DoD collaboration and innovation
  • Institutionalize Open Government philosophies and practices at DoD

Transparency

Government information is a national asset that should be published online in forms that the public can readily find and use. Such transparency promotes efficient and effective government by providing citizens with information about the workings of their government. Making information held by government available online also promotes corporate accountability; enables the creation of tools like healthcare.gov that give consumers better choices; and empowers innovators to use government information to build business.

Participation

Public engagement enhances the Government's effectiveness and improves the quality of its decisions. Knowledge is widely dispersed in society, and public officials benefit from having access to that dispersed knowledge. Executive departments and agencies are dedicated to offering Americans increased opportunities to participate in policymaking and to provide the Government with the benefits of their collective expertise.

Collaboration

While participation brings information to government so that officials can make more informed policy decisions, collaboration focuses on finding innovative strategies to address problems. Collaboration actively engages all of us in the work of our government. Executive departments and agencies are beginning to adopt innovative tools, methods, and systems to encourage cooperation.