U.S. General Services Administration
GSA launches Open Government Federal Advisory Committee to advise on governmentwide transparency efforts
Solicitation for membership now open and public Q&A session slated for May 10
WASHINGTON – The U.S General Services Administration (GSA) today announced plans to create a new Open Government Federal Advisory Committee (OG FAC). Supported by the Open Government Secretariat Program Management Office - established in 2023 - the OG FAC will advise GSA on open government initiatives including GSA’s creation, implementation, and monitoring of U.S. Open Government National Action Plans and related commitments.
“Strengthening the partnership between GSA and civil society bolsters our democracy by enhancing our collective understanding and efforts in shaping a more open government,” said GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan. “This new Federal Advisory Committee is a testament to GSA’s commitment to work within and across the U.S. government, while holding ourselves to the open government principles of transparency, accountability, and engagement alongside civil society stakeholders.”
The OG FAC will advise GSA in its efforts to increase public access to government data and records, to advance equity in open government efforts, to engage the public in the regulatory process, and to improve the delivery of government services and benefits through expert advice.
The OG FAC will comprise a cross-section of government and industry representatives from federal agencies, state and local government, industry associates and academia. GSA is soliciting nominations for potential committee members, and selection will be based on Federal Advisory Committee Act requirements and the potential members’ backgrounds and qualifications.
“GSA looks forward to welcoming a diverse group of voices from civil society to this important new federal advisory committee,” said GSA Associate Administrator for Government-wide Policy Krystal Brumfield. “The OG FAC will allow GSA to tackle emerging open government issues, challenges, and opportunities through expert advice from these stakeholders. We look forward to receiving innovative suggestions on the development of the sixth Open Government National Action Plan as well as other efforts to strengthen open government policy and public engagement.”
The GSA Open Government Secretariat will host a virtual public Q&A session May 10 at 1 p.m. ET to answer questions on the selection process and timeline. Interested parties can register online or submit contact information via email to ogfac@gsa.gov with subject line “OG FAC Q&A Session Attendance.” This session will be recorded and available afterward on the GSA YouTube Channel’s Open Government Secretariat Playlist.
The OG FAC will operate in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). Consistent with FACA and its requirements, each meeting of the OG FAC will be open to the public unless otherwise notified in accordance with the Government in the Sunshine Act, and those meetings will be fully accessible to individuals with disabilities. Information related to the submission of formal nominations is in the Federal Register notice.
The Federal Advisory Committee Act was enacted in 1972 to ensure that advice by the various advisory committees formed over the years is objective and accessible to the public. For additional info on FACA visit GSA’s Legislation and Regulation web page.
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About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement and shared services for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of nearly 370 million rentable square feet, overseeing approximately $100 billion in products and services via federal contracts, and delivering technology services that serve millions of people across dozens of federal agencies. GSA’s mission is to deliver the best customer experience and value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to the government and the American people. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA.