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Trump Administration Disbands Open Government Federal Advisory Committee
The administration of President Donald Trump has officially dissolved the General Services Administration’s Open Government Federal Advisory Committee, as confirmed by the committee’s chair, Daniel Schuman.
Schuman, who specializes in federal government accountability and transparency, received notification from the GSA via email on Tuesday afternoon. This decision was made in accordance with a Trump executive order that mandated federal agencies to identify and eliminate what were deemed “unnecessary” advisory councils.
In a statement, Schuman expressed concern, stating, “The Trump Administration’s war on open and accountable government has claimed another casualty: the Open Government Federal Advisory Committee. Its mission was to provide expert advice to enhance government openness and accountability, which stands in sharp contrast to the current administration’s focus on dismantling our democratic frameworks.”
Formed in 2024, the committee included 15 members and was responsible for promoting public access to data, engaging citizens in the regulatory process, improving the accessibility of government records, and enhancing the delivery of government services and benefits. It played a critical role in aligning with presidential open government initiatives, a commitment that has seen various plans issued by former presidents Barack Obama, Trump, and Joe Biden.
Interestingly, while the aims of the advisory panel appeared to coincide with several of Trump’s stated priorities, such as his directive for the declassification of records related to the assassinations of prominent figures like John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr., this termination raises questions about the administration’s overall commitment to transparency. Furthermore, initiatives like Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, aimed at modernizing federal technology, suggest a complex relationship with open governance.
The GSA has not provided an immediate comment on the matter.
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