Open The Government

01/25/2021

Declassify the post-9/11 torture program

Declassifying the torture report is fundamental to holding our government accountable for the unlawful activities committed under the CIA’s detention and interrogation program.

Read Human Rights Watch's Andrea Prasow’s opinion article⬇️

https://thehill.com/opinion/national-security/535086-declassify-the-post-9-11-torture-program

Information should be classified only when unauthorized disclosure reasonably could be expected to damage national security.

01/23/2021

Biden’s Ethics Plan Earns First Victory for Accountability Reform Advocates - Open The Government

Thank you to new President Joe Biden for Day One executive orders prioritizing #Accountability2021 recommendations on ethics reform, regulatory change, and more. It’s a MAJOR win for accountability to the public & for reform advocates. More here: https://www.openthegovernment.org/bidens-ethics-plan-earns-first-victory-for-accountability-reform-advocates/

(Washington) —  By signing an executive order on ethics commitments for the executive branch on his first day in office, President Joe Biden demonstrated the importance of structural ethics reforms that protect the public interest rather than public officials’ gain. The executive order is a ma...

01/22/2021

Eric Feigl-Ding on Twitter

The White House will review every pending rule not finalized by OMB, halting the enactment of rules not finalized by Trump on his way out, such as DHS's wide-ranging biometrics collection on migrants:
https://twitter.com/DrEricDing/status/1352005480416223232

This is one of the Day One recommendations to Biden's team in #Accountability2021 and is great news for supporters of accountable government
https://www.accountability2021.org/responsive-government/

“BREAKING—Ron Klain, Biden’s @WHCOS, has issued a memo freezing all new or pending Trump regulations. All will now be subject to review.”

01/15/2021

Open The Government on Twitter

President-elect Biden can prioritize accountability on Day One. Catch the replay of our Thursday press call on Accountability 2021 recommendations for him from Open The Government Protect Democracy Public Citizen Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) The George Washington University Project On Government OversightCommon Cause experts:

https://youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=KT-wYTyzMik

“President-elect Biden can prioritize accountability on Day One. Catch the replay of Thursday's press call on Accountability 2021 recommendations for him from @protctdemocracy @Public_Citizen @CREWcrew @GWtweets @POGOBlog @CommonCause & @OpenTheGov experts: https://t.co/lP8tTdREtE”

01/14/2021

From facial recognition, to predictive technologies, big data policing is rife with technical, ethical and political landmines

The Toronto Star highlights inherent problems in the use of facial recognition technology & other personal data in modern policing
http://bit.ly/3qobGgO

In 2019, our work with MuckRock uncovered the widespread use of facial recognition technology in police departments across the country
https://www.openthegovernment.org/investigating-local-use-of-facial-recognition-a-joint-project-with-muckrock-news/

Analysts have identified an impressive list of problems, from biased, incomplete or inaccurate data, opaque technology, erroneous predictions, lack of...

01/14/2021

TODAY: Join OTG, @protctdemocracy, @POGOBlog, @CommonCause @CREWcrew @Public_Citizen & @GWtweets experts for a press call at 11:30am ET on key government accountability priorities for the new Biden administration.

Register now: [email protected].

01/12/2021

Lack of transparency & effective oversight at the Capitol Police contributed to the agency’s failed response to the riot.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/capitol-police-accountabiliy-lapses-oversight/2021/01/12/15cbd23c-5389-11eb-89bc-7f51ceb6bd57_story.html

01/12/2021

Press Call: Our democracy faces a historic crisis, hastened by Trump’s defiance of rule of law, disregard of norms, unprecedented secrecy, and consolidation of power and corruption. On Jan. 14 at 11:30 am, experts will urge Biden to prioritize accountability in the federal gov't.

Media RSVP: [email protected].

More information on Accountability 2021 is available at http://accountability2021.org

#Accountability2021 #A2021

01/11/2021

NPR Politics

NPR Politics

With nine days left in President Trump's term, the House of Representatives is forging ahead with plans to impeach Trump a second time follow last week's insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

01/11/2021

Viewpoint: Whistleblowers are Democracy’s Last Defense

Whistleblower rights supersede speech restrictions, and any gag orders that neglect to spell that out are illegal. Learn more from Government Accountability Project’s Democracy Protection Initiative team:

https://www.govexec.com/management/2020/11/viewpoint-whistleblowers-are-democracys-last-defense/170147/

When brave individuals speak up against wrongdoing, they can mitigate the damage and prevent further harm.

01/11/2021

Transition Roundup: Congress Takes Up Election Certification; Trump Bypasses Top Career Prosecutor for GA Job

Government Executive's Transition Roundup: Congress Takes Up Election Certification; Trump Bypasses Top Career Prosecutor for GA Job.

http://bit.ly/3bvB0x0

Here’s today’s list of news updates and stories you may have missed.

01/07/2021

NEW: Open The Government's statement on the violent mob at the Capitol earlier today.

https://www.openthegovernment.org/a-reprehensible-attack-on-our-democracy/

01/05/2021

Washington Post

Former defense secretaries warn against involving the military in Trump's efforts to subvert the presidential election outcome.

All 10 living ex-defense secretaries write in Opinions: "The election is over. Trying to use the military to dispute the result would be dangerous."

“Efforts to involve the U.S. armed forces in resolving election disputes would take us into dangerous, unlawful and unconstitutional territory,” write the 10 former defense secretaries: Ashton Carter, Dick Cheney, William Cohen, Mark Esper, Robert Gates, Chuck Hagel, James Mattis, Leon Panetta, William Perry and Donald Rumsfeld.

01/05/2021

Congress needs to revive itself

American Enterprise Institute's Kevin Kosar's opinion article on Congress reviving itself includes taking steps to curb abuse of executive authorities, a recommendation all branches of government should raise a glass in support of accountability. #A2021

https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/532619-congress-needs-to-revive-itself

More info here: https://www.accountability2021.org/balance-of-power/

One lawmaker has shown other members what the nation needs.

01/05/2021

Hiding Covid-19: How the Trump Administration Suppresses Photography of the Pandemic

Even as the coronavirus pandemic raged throughout the US, Trump appointee Roger Severino used HIPAA to make it nearly impossible for journalists to capture the severity of the pandemic in images by restricting hospital access.

https://theintercept.com/2020/12/27/covid-photography-hospitals/

The U.S. government has reinforced media restrictions at hospitals, reducing the flow of disturbing images of the pandemic.

01/05/2021

How Biden Can Bring Transparency Back to Government

The New Republic's Joshua Eaton highlighted some of our #Accountability2021 recommendations on why transparency should be a priority for the Biden administration, including steps it can take to revitalize #FOIA.
http://bit.ly/35cYhjv

In #Accountability2021, we recommend the president issue a memorandum on transparency on January 20th that instructs all fed employees - particularly agency leadership - to embrace transparency, with a focus on FOIA and appoint a Chief Accountability Officer.
https://www.accountability2021.org/open-government/

Federal secrecy reached new heights under Trump, but there’s a lot the incoming president can do to let the sunshine back in.

01/01/2021

Our democratic institutions face a historic crisis, ‘hastened by unprecedented secrecy, defiance of the rule of law, disregard of norms, consolidation of power and corruption.’ #Accountability2021 has solutions.

The #Accountability2021 initiative includes recommendations based on 18 principles across 6 categories necessary to create a responsive government: Open Government, Ethics, Balance of Power, Whistleblowers, Responsive Government, & Pandemic Preparedness & Response

More here: www.accountability2021.org

12/30/2020

‘Build Back Better’ Should Mean Reducing Contractor Influence Over the Pentagon Budget

It’s time for the Pentagon’s budget to be reined in, especially when considering the strain of the pandemic on the U.S. economy.
http://bit.ly/38LRM85

See also: our work on government contractors and transparency⬇️
http://bit.ly/2WXD5JG

The first lesson of the pandemic that President-elect Biden must learn is that we can no longer afford runaway spending at the Department of Defense.

12/27/2020

House Republicans meet with Trump to discuss overturning election results

The Trump administration’s latest attempt to overturn the results of the election, is to convince House Republicans to object to the election results and overturn the votes of the American public. A truly anti-democratic, last-ditch ploy to hold power

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/12/21/trump-house-overturn-election-449787

Trump loyalists are planning a last stand Jan. 6.

12/24/2020

Six months after the repeal of 50-a, NY police continue to combat the release of disciplinary records

The provision of a New York Civil Rights Law shielding police disciplinary records from public view was repealed six months ago, yet one-tenth of local law enforcement agencies have agreed to provide disciplinary records since then. Why so opposed to transparency?

http://ow.ly/vwHp50CTWQx

MuckRock has partnered with the USA TODAY Network New York, the Brechner Center for Freedom of Information and Syracuse University journalism students to file more than 600 records requests with more than 400 police agencies in hopes of creating a searchable, first-of-its-kind database with discipli...

12/23/2020

Governor Cuomo Signs Legislation Suspending Use and Directing Study of Facial Recognition Technology in Schools

Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation that suspends the use of facial recognition and biometric technology in NY schools. “The safety and security of our children is vital to every parent, and whether to use this technology is not a decision to be made lightly."
http://on.ny.gov/34H79gP

Related: See our guide with MuckRock on the use of facial recognition technology across the country. The tech is notably biased and inaccurate and hopefully Cuomo's decision will be replicated nationwide.
http://bit.ly/3nMA4Yj

Governor Cuomo signed legislation (A6787-D/S5140-B) suspending the use of facial recognition technology and other kinds of biometric technology in schools, directing a study of whether its use is appropriate in schools and issuing recommendations.

12/23/2020

Civil rights groups move to block expansion of facial recognition in airports

The ACLU is leading a collection of civil rights groups in objecting the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's expansion of facial recognition use. The invasive tech would allow other actors to surveil on and identify people for reasons beyond the CBP's initial use

http://bit.ly/38t2ikB

The ACLU says the ruling "would put the United States on an extraordinarily dangerous path"

12/18/2020

In December's 'Transparency Matters' we spotlight:

-The House passing the Open Courts Act of 2020
-Misallocation of COVID-19 PPP funds
-Q&A with accountability expert Rio Tazewell
-Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) 'What Democracy Looks Like' report, and more!

Subscribe: https://bit.ly/37Il74p

12/11/2020

Red alert for reporters as Trump loyalists destroy the evidence on their way out the door | Press Watch

Press Watch's Dan Froomkin spoke with our Lisa Rosenberg on the urgency of preserving Trump's presidential records as he leaves office, and the media's critical role in reminding the administration of its duties to uphold the Presidential Records Act.

https://presswatchers.org/2020/12/red-alert-for-reporters-as-trump-loyalists-destroy-the-evidence-on-their-way-out-the-door/

The news that CDC director Robert Redfield forced career staff to delete an incriminating email from a Trump political appointee is a red alert moment for Washington-based reporters, who should fan out to everywhere Trump loyalists could by trying to destroy evidence.

12/10/2020

CDC director allegedly ordered deletion of email seeking to interfere with coronavirus guidance, House panel chair says

CDC director allegedly ordered deletion of email seeking to interfere with coronavirus guidance, House panel chair says:

https://wapo.st/3qK0Jqx

In a letter to Robert Redfield, Rep. James E. Clyburn raised concern over possible “deliberate efforts” to “conceal and destroy evidence.”

12/10/2020

Appeals Court hands journalists big Freedom of Information Act win for gun data access

Appeals Court hands journalists big FOIA win for gun data access. Kudos to our coalition partners MuckRock and The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, who co-wrote the amicus brief with Harvard's Cyberlaw Clinic, five media outlets, and more than a dozen data journalists.

"Government transparency is critical to ensure the people have the information needed to check public corruption, hold government leaders accountable, and elect leaders who will carry out their preferred policies." - Judge Kim McLane Wardlaw in the ruling.

https://bit.ly/33YyYAM

The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals says authorities must hand over database records just as if they were paper records in a file cabinet.

12/09/2020

Government Accountability Office cites need for more transparency in latest CARES Act report

Government Accountability Office cites need for more transparency in latest CARES Act report: bit.ly/37K7wYM

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently issued its fourth report on the implementation of the CARES Act and other pandemic

12/09/2020

Exception(s) to the Rule(s): Civilian Harm, Oversight, and Accountability in the Shadow Wars | Center for Civilians in Conflict

Center for Civilians in Conflict’s “Exception(s) to the Rule(s)” report examines the consequences of continued use of “parallel” counterterrorism authorities and covert practices in endless war, and the implications for transparency & oversight.

More here: https://civiliansinconflict.org/exceptions-to-the-rules/

“Exceptions to the Rules”, a report produced by Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) in partnership with the Stimson Center and Security Assistance Monitor, examines the tradeoffs and consequences involved with the continued use and availability of certain counterterrorism authorities and pr...

12/08/2020

Loophole Allows Biden Nominees to Avoid Disclosures. Will They Use It?

An obscure loophole exempts Biden’s nominees from disclosing their previous clients, raising ethical concerns.
https://bit.ly/33SC612

See also: Key recommendations on how the new administration can adopt a proactive and robust approach to ethics disclosures: https://www.accountability2021.org/ethics/

An obscure exemption from listing previous clients may generate an interesting test case for Biden’s pledge of full transparency.

12/04/2020

Trump's Presidential Records Are at Risk – InsideSources

Trump's Presidential Records Are at Risk. 'The Presidential Records Act requires Trump and his staff, with the assistance of the National Archives, preserve records so that Americans have documentation and context for the president's actions and decisions.'

More in Lisa Rosenberg's and Anne Weismann's InsideSources opinion article.

https://www.insidesources.com/trumps-presidential-records-are-at-risk/

With the clock ticking toward a Joe Biden administration in January, the country faces a significant risk that President Trump and his White House will

12/04/2020

CDC quietly adjusted Covid death data, shows higher relative toll on Black, Hispanic people

CDC quietly adjusted Covid death data, shows higher relative toll on Black, Hispanic people.

Related: Our Coalition's concerns about CDC data reporting and transparency this summer: https://bit.ly/341HPlB

https://cnb.cx/3lMrh6W

The CDC's previous infographic, which downplayed the disproportionate burden on communities of color, was widely shared.

12/03/2020

CLC Calls for Biden Administration To Restore Government Accountability Through Ethics Reforms

The Biden-Harris administration will have to make meaningful reforms to restore many of the ethics norms and laws that have been eroded over time.

More from Delaney Marsco and Campaign Legal Center ⬇️

#Accountability2021

https://campaignlegal.org/update/clc-calls-biden-administration-restore-government-accountability-through-ethics-reforms

The Biden administration should should prioritize ethics and ensure the government acts in the interest of the public.