2.3: Transparency Initiatives
Comply with federal transparency initiatives Other Information:
Compliance: eRulemaking; IT Dashboard; Recovery.gov; USAspending.gov - We, at the Department of Veterans Affairs, are committed
to complying with federal transparency initiatives. While we struggle with compliance on some of the initiatives, we have
identified these shortcomings and are working within the agency to improve performance. E-rulemaking (Regulations.gov) E-rulemaking
is a way for the public to comment on rules that we promulgate at VA in response to Congressional laws. We are committed to
improving our internal processes and simultaneously make it easy for the public to access VA-specific rules on Regulations.gov.
Our first priority is to create a transparent process. Currently, Regulations.gov contains over 3,000 VA related rulings.
Unfortunately, our website currently lacks information for the public to learn more about our e-rulings and how they can participate
in this very important process. One way we plan to address this issue is by creating an online repository of our past e-rulings
with a clear way for the public to contact us with questions regarding previous decisions. We will also include a link off
of our homepage that provides visitors with information about what e-rulemaking is, what it means for our agency, and how
e-rulemaking can be used to affect policies at VA and beyond. IT Dashboard The IT Dashboard is a website operated by the Office
of Management and Budget that details information on federal technology investments. Specifically, the IT Dashboard allows
the public to track and review performance, spending and progress of technology investments of the different federal agencies.
In fact, VA Chief Information Officer, Roger Baker helped specify and design the Federal IT dashboard. VA IT Dashboard and
PMAS Assistant Secretary Baker also provides leadership and accountability for the proper management of IT projects. He created
the Project Management Accountability System (PMAS) in summer 2009, and all projects are scheduled to be integrated into the
system by spring of 2010. PMAS will deliver IT products in short, iterative cycles. This will ensure that VA does not waste
millions or even billions of dollars in taxpayer resources only to learn of failed implementations days before expected delivery.
PMAS resulted in the immediate cessation of 45 projects that were not meeting our standards of excellence. As we report out
this data, it will ensure absolute transparency of VA’s spending on IT projects. As a result of the new culture of accountability
created by PMAS, VA developed the VA IT Dashboard to capture critical information for projects including status, cost and
schedule. The VA IT dashboard’s development and display allows the public to view our projects, their pending status, and
how much the projects are costing. The next step is to allow the public to view the VA IT Dashboard information in machine
readable and open format. This will enable the public to use the information for research, or their own personal knowledge,
and interface with our program offices in a meaningful way. Recovery.gov We take the responsibility of allocating ARRA funds
very seriously. That is why we ensure that our spending reports are prepared and submitted to OMB and Recovery.gov on time,
every time. We have developed a set of departmental, agency program, and expenditure plans that detail specific projects and
the level of resources that will be funded by ARRA dollars. Our recovery plans, status of ongoing efforts and weekly financial
and accomplishment reports are published online and available for download at www.va.gov/recovery. USAspending.gov USAspending.gov
collects all the financial spending data for an agency. The spending data is in one of four categories: Grants, Loans, Contracts,
and Other Assistance. VA currently provides information for grants spending, but the data is deemed to be low quality. To
improve the quality of the data and to ensure VA provides data on loans, contracts, and other assistance, the acting Chief
Financial Officer, Todd Grams, developed a Data Quality Plan. This plan defines the governance needed as well as the technological
changes required to be more transparent with our spending data.
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