Statement of Open the Government on Capital Gazette Shooting

Open the Government issued the following statement in response to the shooting at the Capital Gazette in Annapolis, Maryland:

Open the Government is devastated by the shooting at the Capital Gazette.

Journalists are our partners and kindred spirits in our mission to provide the public with access to information.  They are the antithesis of “the enemy of the people” and we will continue undeterred to support their work and will seek and support efforts to deescalate the hostility towards them.

Congress must end systemic abuse, waste, and entrenched secrecy: stop funding for new Immigration detention camps

The public outcry that resulted from the Department of Homeland Security’s implementation of the administration’s “zero tolerance” policy led to a rollback of the policy and a court-imposed timeframe for reuniting children with their parents. But the fight for full accountability is far from over.  DHS has requested $25.5 billion in taxpayers’ dollars for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), agencies that already receive as much funding as all other law enforcement agencies combined.

Family Separation Crisis Highlights Urgent Need for Transparency in Immigration System

The Trump administration’s policy to separate families seeking protection at the southern border, followed by a rollback that would instead indefinitely detain parents and their children, has made clear that the immigration system lacks crucial transparency and accountability mechanisms. Any immigration reform legislation must include remedies to take our immigration system out of the shadows. Open the Government recommends a series of legislative actions today that would provide greater transparency and accountability for opaque immigration policies.

Open the Government Applauds Sen. Merkley for Introducing AUMF Bill That Offers Alternative to Corker-Kaine

Open the Government Executive Director Lisa Rosenberg applauded Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley for introducing the Constitutional Consideration for Use of Force Act. The bill is an Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) that is truly in line with constitutional checks and balances, unlike legislation introduced by Sens. Bob Corker (R-TN) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is currently debating. Senator Merkley’s bill offers a path to rein in the executive branch’s ability to declare and wage endless wars without congressional debate and authorization, and would provide the public with a clearer picture of who the U.S. is fighting and why.
Subscribe to