Open Government at HHS

An open government is one that leverages the principles of transparency, participation, and collaboration to deliver better results to the American people and which helps the public hold the government accountable.

• Learn more about the Open Government Directive

HHS Open Government Plan

Since the publication of our first open government plan, we advanced many important programmatic areas that underscore our commitment to the spirit of open government.

• Read Version 3.0 of Our Open Government Plan (PDF, 683 KB)

Previous Open Government Plans

• HHS Open Government Plan Version 2.0 (PDF, 817 KB)
• HHS Open Government Plan Version 1.1 (PDF, 1.22 MB)

Initiatives

The programs below bring our open government plan to life and allow us to harness the energy and expertise both inside and outside HHS to achieve our goals.

HHS IDEA Lab

The IDEA Lab was developed to establish new pathways and programs that equip the workforce with new workflow processes, new methods, and communication and analytic tools that will help accelerate the adoption of open government principles.

• Learn more about the HHS IDEA Lab

HealthData.gov
HHS provides open access to health information and health datasets generated or held by the U.S. government. This is a one-stop resource for the growing ecosystem of innovators who are turning our data into new applications, services, and insights that can help improve health.

• Explore HealthData.gov

Records & Reports

In our commitment to transparency, we are providing information and resources for you to see inside HHS.

HHS Strategic Plan

Every 4 years, HHS updates its strategic plan, which describes its work to address complex, multifaceted, and ever-evolving health and human service issues. Under the Government Performance and Results Modernization Act, Federal agencies are required to consult with the Congress and to solicit and consider the views of external parties.

• Read the Strategic Plan for FY 2014-2018

Public Access

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) has directed all federal research agencies with more than $100 million in the annual conduct of research and development to develop plans for increasing access for increasing public access to peer-reviewed scientific publications and digital data resulting from federally funded research investments.

• Read Secretary Burwell's cover letter

• Learn more about our public access plans

Prevention and Public Health Fund

Congress has directed HHS to provide information on activities and programs supported with resources from the Prevention and Public Health Fund and the planned use of funds, funding opportunities, and the recipients of awards.

• Learn more about Prevention and Public Health Fund Activities

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

FOIA is a critical component of Open Government that encourages accountability through transparency. We are committed to improved compliance and reform of FOIA as we develop our Open Government plans.

• Learn more about FOIA

Records Management

Proper records management is the backbone of open Government. Title 44 U.S.C. 2901 defines records management as “the managerial activities involved with respect to records creation, records maintenance and use, and records disposition in order to achieve adequate and proper documentation of the policies and transactions of the Federal government and effective and economical management of agency operations."

• Lean more about Records Management at HHS

Regulatory Review

The Department invites suggestions of regulations to review. For example, you may want to suggest that the Department review a regulation because you think it is obsolete, unnecessary, burdensome, or counterproductive, or you may think the Department should modify a regulation to increase its effectiveness, efficiency, and flexibility.

• Learn how to Suggest a Regulation for Review

HHS Sustainability

HHS outlines its path towards sustainable operation and efficiency with specific reduction goals that would cut consumption and emissions, while increasing productivity and transparency.

• Learn more about Sustainability at HHS

Web Measurement and Customization Technologies

HHS discloses the use of web measurement and customization technologies to remember a user’s online interactions with a website or online application in order to conduct measurement and analysis of usage or to customize the user’s experience.

• Read the HHS.gov Privacy Policy

Plain Writing

Clear writing is essential to transparency, public participation, and collaboration. HHS is implementing plain writing programs and improving communication materials across the Department.

• Learn about Plain Writing at HHS

Language Access Plan

HHS is committed to providing meaningful access to HHS programs and activities for persons with limited English proficiency.

• Read the HHS Language Access Plan (PDF, 416 KB)

Research and Scientific Integrity

HHS has established policies and principles designed to assure the integrity of scientific and scholarly activities that the Department conducts and supports, and the science it uses to inform management and public policy decisions.

• Policies And Principles For Assuring Scientific Integrity (PDF, 100 KB)
• Human Research Protections

Preparation, Submission, and Execution of the Budget

HHS ensures the transparent preparation and execution of our budget by making the following resources available.

• Budget and Performance at HHS
• HHS Open Government Financial Data Quality Plan (PDF, 438 KB)
• HHS Inspector General Audits
• HHS Performance Improvement Summaries
• Performance.gov

Conference Spending Reports

These reports include information about conferences held by HHS where costs exceed $100,000.

• FY 2014 Conference Spending Summary
  • Conference Spending by Agency
• FY 2013 Conference Spending Summary
  • Conference Spending by Agency
• FY 2012 Conference Spending Summary (PDF, 125 KB)
  • Conference Spending Details (PDF, 1.03 MB)

Presidential Actions, Executive Orders & Memos

HHS has compiled a listing of Presidential actions, executive orders, and memos related to Open Government for your reference. 

• View Presidential Actions, Executive Orders, and Memos