On December 8, 2009 Peter Orszag, in response to his decree issued a open government directive (OGD) to each agency to publish, within 45 days, “at least three high-value data sets (see attachment section 3.a.i) and register those data sets via Data.gov. These must be data sets not previously available online or in a downloadable format. ”

Agencies responses varied, but most agencies sent their new boss a great big middle finger.  Sorting through DATA.GOV reveals responses that can only be considered a refusal.  For instance, how many of you have been waiting with baited breath for a contact list of Part D Sponsors in Medication Therapy Management Program (MTMP)?  How about a 1985 already-published study from the Department of Justice?  The Merit Systems Protection Board published a study that takes you to a page on their website touting “trasnparency” and then locks you out by denying you access to the link.

For a good analysis of agencies’ response, see this article at Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW).