| April 8, 2010 |  |
Obama Administration’s Open Government Plan a Good Step Forward, But Must Go Further
WASHINGTON
(April 7, 2010) – The Obama administration today announced plans to make all cabinet agencies more open to public scrutiny.Below is a statement by Francesca Grifo, director of the Scientific Integrity Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).
"The Obama administration has taken some admirable steps to open up the workings of the federal government in ways that will better inform the public and help expose the misuse of scientific information by federal employees. But the plans announced today would not have prevented even the most flagrant examples of censorship of scientists during the previous administration.
"It's commendable that federal agencies now will post information online, but if federal scientists are not free to discuss the context and implications of that information, then that pledge of transparency is ultimately hollow. And despite today's announcement, many federal scientists are still not protected by policies that would allow them to speak freely with the public and the press.
"All agencies need media policies that ensure federal scientists are allowed and encouraged to share their expertise freely. Scientists should not fear that talking to reporters or citizen groups will get them into trouble at work.
"It's ironic that the administration held online polls soliciting public input for the plan it released today but apparently didn't heed those recommendations. Recommendations to allow agency scientists to speak freely garnered the most votes in polls taken at the Interior Department, Environmental Protection Agency and Labor Department.
"Federal agencies still need to make transparency meaningful in many other ways, from improving media policies to making visitor records available to the public. The administration needs to build on the plans it announced today."
To see UCS's media policy score card, go to: www.ucsusa.org/mediapolicies.
To see UCS's top vote-getting recommendation, go to: openepa.ideascale.com/a/dtd/29345-7042.
The Union of Concerned Scientists puts rigorous, independent science to work to solve our planet's most pressing problems. Joining with citizens across the country, we combine technical analysis and effective advocacy to create innovative, practical solutions for a healthy, safe, and sustainable future.
