Obama pledges to ‘lead by example’ on openness

The federal government is working “to modernize our Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process” and improve transparency, President Obama said Wednesday, though his administration has itself often faced criticism on disclosure and press freedom.

Speaking at a meeting of the Open Government Partnership at the United Nations, the president said the U.S. would “lead by example” with a series of new initiatives to promote open government.

{mosads}That will include the launch next year of a revamped USASpending.gov, an online portal that allows taxpayers to see where the government is spending its money. The government is also examining ways to make it easier to request information through FOIA requests, and change health law regulations that would allow more advanced medical research while still protecting patient privacy.

“Open and honest collaboration with citizens and civil society over the long term, however uncomfortable it is, makes countries stronger,” Obama said.

The president said nations needed to do more to battle corruption by government officials, saying bribes and payoffs promote economic inequality and “fuels organized crime, terrorism, and ultimately instability.”

“We need to do more to ensure transparency and accountability in industries that can be especially vulnerable to corruption,” Obama said.

Obama acknowledged that “all governments think they’re doing what’s right and don’t like criticism,” but said leaders had an obligation to “serve the people and not the other way around.”

The president’s call to action comes despite tough criticism at home over his administration’s handling of the media.

Journalism organizations have criticized the Justice Department for undertaking a record number of leak investigations over information revealed to journalists, and one New York Times reporter is currently facing jail time over his refusal to testify in the trial of a Central Intelligence Agency officer accused of leaking classified documents.

Last month, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said that Obama had an “unwavering” commitment to an independent press in a letter to the Society of Professional Journalists, which had criticized the White House’s handling of the leak investigations.

Earnest noted White House efforts to increase access for reporters at presidential fundraisers, and that the administration had processed more FOIA requests than ever before and directed the intelligence community to declassify some 400 million pages of previously restricted records.

“The president has set an historically high standard of transparency that is part of the legacy to which future presidents will aspire and the president and his administration are justifiably proud of these accomplishments,” Earnest wrote.