12: Official Government Information

Be the first place citizens, businesses, visitors to the U.S., and other governments turn to for official government information every day and especially during national emergencies.

Other Information:

USA Services uses the full spectrum of Federal government communications channels to ensure the public can find up-to-date, consistent, and offi cial government information quickly and easily. These channels include the government’s web portal USA.gov (formerly FirstGov.gov); its Spanish-language website Gobierno USA.gov; its National Contact Center at 1-800 FED-INFO; print publications from Pueblo, Colorado; and an e-mail address available separately on USA.gov. By centralizing management of these channels, equipping them with a single comprehensive database of continually refreshed official information, and focusing on the needs of the public, USA Services has dramatically improved the delivery of government information to citizens. The benefits of the USA Services channels have been keenly felt during recent national crises—beginning with September 11, 2001. Their value has also been apparent in natural disasters like Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and during man-made emergencies, such as breaches in personally identifiable information. In the future, USA Services websites and contact centers will become increasingly important as public awareness of them grows and citizens learn to accept and trust them as the definitive source of government information—emergency and otherwise. Over the next five years, we will promote the availability of these resources. We will continue to distribute our successful television, radio, and print Public Service Announcements. We will expand our outreach to the Hispanic population and to the educational community, Congress, and Federal employees. Ultimately citizens will expect—and demand—the ability to access all levels of government through a single gateway. Until this objective is achieved, we will promote connections among state and local portals and USA.gov and help other governments use our search technology to obtain government information.

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