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COVID-19 Pandemic: Correcting a Misconception About OTG and Reopen Plans

The COVID-19 pandemic is having an impact on all of our lives right now. How our nation ends the stay-at-home orders is striking a nerve around the country, with some people in support of America reopening as soon as possible and others urging for more caution.

Majority of Americans Disapprove of Trump’s Coronavirus Response, New Account.Us Poll Finds

Americans are not pleased with the Trump administration’s pandemic response. Topline findings from the Account.Us commissioned-poll conducted by the Global Strategy Group, include: The stature of health care experts overshadows Trump and Congressional Republicans. In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, Americans have extremely positive feelings for health care experts, while viewing President Trump and

OTG endorses stronger oversight, accountability, and transparency provisions in new CORE Act

Open The Government and several coalition partners endorsed the new Coronavirus Oversight and Recovery Ethics (CORE) Act, legislation introduced by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Chris Coons (D-Del.), and Representatives Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) and John Sarbanes (D-MD) to strengthen oversight, accountability, and transparency in the federal government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

OTG team & Fox 5 DC discuss being mistaken for ‘reopen America’ advocates’ during the pandemic

Even though we have had the Open The Government name since 2003, in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, some people believe OTG is advocating for reopening the country as soon as possible. Adhering to stay-at-home orders, several members of the OTG team set the record straight and brought some levity to the situation in

OTG Leads Sign-on Letter Calling for Stronger Transparency and Accountability in COVID-19 Legislative Response

Open The Government led a sign-on letter initiative calling on Congress to include strong transparency and accountability provisions in the next legislative response to the COVID-19 pandemic. While the CARES Act included several important transparency and oversight requirements, according to the letter, much more is needed to protect the public’s access to information and strengthen

Trump Administration Awards $55 Million N95 Masks Contract to Questionable Company

The shortage of N95 masks, vital medical supplies that can help curb the spread of COVID-19, has made headlines due to the pandemic. This time because the Trump administration awarded a $55 million contract to Panthera Worldwide, a company with a questionable reputation that has never manufactured N95 masks nor other medical supplies. According to

Protecting public access to information during the pandemic

Public access to information is vital during times of crisis, but government transparency is often sacrificed when it is needed most. The coronavirus pandemic is no different, and we are seeing Freedom of Information Act processing either directly undermined or buried in delays. Open The Government has made the following recommendations to protect FOIA, including:

Trump Administration Restricted IG’s Access in JEDI Contract Investigation

On new audit report stating Defense Department inspector general could not fully review contested $10 billion JEDI Cloud contract because of “presidential communications privilege,” Lisa Rosenberg issued the following statement. In yet another attack on federal inspectors general and oversight, the Trump administration claimed executive privilege to undermine the Pentagon’s investigation into whether there was

Open The Government is an inclusive, nonpartisan coalition that works to strengthen our democracy and empower the public by advancing policies that create a more open, accountable, and responsive government.