6.0: Information Sharing

[Make] information on the Department’s actions, policies, and processes available to the public.

Other Information:

Having is integral to open government. USDA has established practices for sharing information through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), Section 508, and Records Management processes. Together, these activities serve to keep the public informed of the Department’s activities, and provide transparency and accessibility. To ensure that the Department is complying with the spirit of the Open Government Directive, we will review all existing internal policy guidance and regulations relating to the dissemination of information to the public. Afterwards, we will consider public comment on this matter. This review will consider current legal interpretations of laws applicable to USDA that require special safeguarding of certain information, such as the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, and the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000. This review will ensure that the balance between privacy and openness is properly established from a public policy standpoint, and that procedures exist to guarantee its proper operation.

Stakeholder(s):

• Members of the Public

Objective(s):

6.1: Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

6.2: Section 508

6.3: Records Management

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