Formal request to Open Government Partnership to place the U.S. government under review

[Alexander Howard]

Hello all —

Sorry for any crossposting. In March 2025, a coalition of organizations and individuals who work on government transparency and accountability in the United States respectfully requested the Open Government Partnership (OGP) to immediately place the United States government under review for actions contrary to the principles and policies of the partnership. 

https://americalabs.org/2025/03/21/us-civil-society-asks-open-government-partnership-to-place-us-government-under-review/

The OGP Steering Committee declined to do so, citing lack of precedent, despite the USA repeatedly acting “contrary to process” in the design & implementation of the 4th & 5th U.S. National Action Plans from 2017 to 2023.

https://www.opengovpartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/USA_Contrary-to-Process-Letter_20230811.pdf

In a new letter (transmitted today and linked below), Daniel and I filed an addendum, identifying instances of the Trump administration violating the principles of the Open Government Partnership. 

https://americalabs.org/2025/07/01/ogp-must-act-concerning-us-government-backsliding-on-open-government-principles/

We once again respectfully requested the OGP Steering Committee formally trigger a response policy case regarding the United States' departure from OGP values.

It is my view, as a long-time observer, participant, and advocate who has followed OGP from launch in 2011 to today, that the U.S. government should have remained under review after the Trump administration openwashed US participation and made a mockery of good governance in 2020. 

The Biden administration’s failed consultation and weak plan did not right the ship of state. Instead, the President directed public attention, news media reporting, state capacity, and global government participation to the “Summit for Democracy,” and depriving OGP of all of them. 

In effect, former President Biden and his advisors created a weaker multistakeholder initiative without a secretariat, steering committee, independent review mechanism, or policies for membership, co-creation, implementation, review, or suspension, which has now been relegated to history.

While the Open Government Secretariat and Open Government Advisory Committee were founded by the Biden administration in 2023 and 2024, to address serious deficiencies in process and outcomes, enabling a more robust co-creation process for the 6th NAP, both Secretariat and Advisory Committee were dissolved in 2025. 

The GSA is now misrepresenting US government activity, falsely claiming on its website that there is a “current plan” and that staff are “leading reporting on existing commitments in existing national action plans” (none since 2024), “conducting engagement sessions with civic organizations and members of federal, state, and local governments” (none since 2024), and “actively collaborating with the public (no evidence). 

I hope that OGP Steering Committee recognizes that unprecedented actions in the USA require a more robust response than continued silence and action.

Thank you to everyone who continues to serve in our union and around the world.

With respect and gratitude,

Alexander B. Howard