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A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
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Open government in the United States is rooted in principles of transparency, participation, and accountability, as outlined in the 2009 Memorandum on Transparency and Open Government, which directed federal agencies to harness technology to promote accountability and public engagement. Building on this foundation, the Open Government Directive (2009) required agencies to proactively publish high-value data, improve information quality, and institutionalize open government practices. More recently, the OPEN Government Data Act (2019) supported by OMB Memorandum M-25-05 (2025) advances these efforts by guiding agencies in implementation through open data access, governance, and security measures. Federal initiatives such as GSA’s Digital Strategy and Open Data further support these goals by enhancing data accessibility, usability, and public trust. Together, these policies and initiatives reinforce a long-term commitment to making government more open, data-driven, and accountable to the public.
Since 2009, GSA’s Open Government Commitments have had a distinct and positive impact on the nation while supporting the agency’s mission to deliver efficient and effective governmentwide solutions. By leveraging technology, streamlining access to federal information, and fostering open dialogue, GSA has transformed how the public interacts with the government. Flagship initiatives like Challenge.gov, Data.gov, CitizenScience.gov, Performance.gov and Regulations.gov enhancements have empowered businesses, researchers, and citizens with critical data and opportunities to drive innovation. Through these commitments, GSA continues to lead the way in modernizing government operations, promoting fiscal responsibility, and ensuring public trust in federal services.
The U.S. government has long embraced open data as a cornerstone of transparency, collaboration, and innovation. The former president’s Executive Order on Open Data and the accompanying Open Data Policy – Managing Information as an Asset, issued on May 9, 2013, reinforced these principles by requiring federal agencies to make data available in machine-readable formats. This policy has fueled innovation across government and industry, improved decision-making, and enabled greater public collaboration.
Building on this foundation, the OPEN Government Data Act and the OMB Memorandum M-25-05 (2025) further advance open data initiatives. These policies guide agencies in implementing the Evidence Act by strengthening data access, governance, and security—ensuring that open data remains a driving force for transparency and public engagement.
GSA’s publicly available data sets provide value to U.S. citizens by promoting transparency, fostering economic growth, and enhancing public services. Access to government data empowers individuals, businesses, and researchers to develop innovative solutions, make informed decisions, and hold the government accountable. It also supports evidence-based policymaking, improves civic engagement, and drives efficiency in areas like healthcare, transportation, and emergency response. By ensuring open and accessible data, GSA advances its mission to deliver effective government services and enhance public trust.
Learn more about GSA datasets.
Data.gov is the federal government’s open data site, and aims to make the government more open and accountable. Opening government data increases citizen participation in government, creates opportunities for economic development, and informs decision making in both the private and public sectors.
Data.gov implements the OPEN Government Data Act (Title II of the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018, Public Law 115-435). The OPEN Government Data Act makes Data.gov a requirement in statute, rather than a policy. It requires federal agencies to publish their information online as open data, using standardized, machine-readable data formats, with their metadata included in the Data.gov catalog.
Data.gov is working with an expanded group of federal agencies to include their datasets in Data.gov as they implement the law. In addition, the law requires that GSA work with the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Government Information Services to establish an “online repository of tools, best practices, and schema standards to facilitate the adoption of open data practices across the Federal Government.” That repository can be found at resources.data.gov.
Data.gov was built with open source software. Anyone, especially local, state, and foreign governments, can borrow the code behind Data.gov.
GSA is setting the standard in government by working towards 100% open source. In response to OMB memorandum M-16-21, Federal Source Code Policy: Achieving Efficiency, Transparency, and Innovation through Reusable and Open Source Software, we have developed our own open source policy.
U.S. General Services Administration