Linking Policy

Evaluation Criteria

USFA evaluates all suggested links using the following criteria:

Does the recommended Web site complement existing information, products and services on usfa.dhs.gov?
Is the recommended Web site accessible and applicable to a wide audience?
Is the recommended Web site's content relevant, useful and authoritative for citizens, businesses and/or government officials?
Does the recommended Web site's information appear to be accurate and current?

For our Federal Fire Links database, the following criteria are also used:

Is the recommended Web site an official Federal government-owned or supported website?
Does the recommended Web site provide official Federal government information or services?

Links to Government Web Sites

USFA can add a link to any government Web site that is publicly available unless directed not to by the agency that owns the site. Acceptable Federal government-owned or government-sponsored Web site domains include .gov, .mil and .fed.us. USFA also links to: quasi-government agencies and Web sites created by public sector/private sector partnerships; state and local government sites; and some government-sponsored Web sites that end in .com, .org, or .net.

Links to Non-Government Web Sites

USFA links to Web sites that are not government-owned or government-sponsored if these Web sites complement existing information, products and services on the USFA Web site. USFA provides these non-government Web sites as a public service only. USFA will not link to non-government sites to advertise products and/or services. The U.S. government neither endorses nor guarantees in any way the external organizations, services, advice, or products included in these Web site links. Furthermore, the U.S. government neither controls nor guarantees the accuracy, relevance, timeliness or completeness of the information contained in non-government Web site links. (See Disclaimer of Endorsement for more information on this topic.)

Reviewing Links for Currency

All external links are reviewed quarterly to make sure they work and that they still add value.

Prohibitions

USFA will not link to any Web site that exhibits hate, bias, or discrimination. Furthermore, USFA reserves the right to deny or remove any link that contains misleading information or unsubstantiated claims, or is determined to be in conflict with USFA's mission or policies.

Disclaimer of Endorsement

The information posted on the USFA Web site includes hypertext links or pointers to information created and maintained by other public and/or private organizations. USFA provides these links and pointers solely for our users' information and convenience. When users select a link to an outside website, they are leaving the USFA Web site and are subject to the privacy and security policies of the owners/sponsors of the outside Web site.

USFA does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness or completeness of information contained on a linked Web site.
USFA does not endorse the organizations sponsoring linked Web sites, and we do not endorse the views they express or the products/services they offer.
USFA cannot authorize the use of copyrighted materials contained in linked Web sites. Users must request such authorization from the sponsor of the linked Web site.
USFA is not responsible for transmissions users receive from linked Web sites.
USFA does not guarantee that outside Web sites comply with Section 508 (Accessibility Requirements) of the Rehabilitation Act.

Privacy and Security

Check the Privacy and Security Notice for more information about USFA Privacy and Security policies.