Transparency Task Force Mission

Background

On January 21, 2009, President Obama issued two memoranda to the heads of executive departments and agencies that expressed a commitment to promote transparency and openness in government. [1]

In one memorandum on Transparency and Open Government, the Administration has pledged to take appropriate action, consistent with law and policy, to disclose information to the public rapidly, and in a form that is easily accessible and user friendly.  Executive departments and agencies have been charged with harnessing new technologies to disclose information about operations and decisions online and to make this information readily available to the public.  In addition, executive departments and agencies have been instructed to solicit public input and feedback to identify information of greatest use to the public.

Transparency Task Force

In response to the Presidential memoranda, FDA is forming an internal Transparency Task Force to develop recommendations for making useful and understandable information about FDA activities and decision making more readily available to the public in a timely manner and in a user-friendly format.  These recommendations should be compatible with the agency’s goal of appropriately protecting confidential information.

The Task Force will seek public input on these issues by holding two public meetings and establishing a public docket.     

Task Force Actions

The Task Force will take the following actions:

• Seek public input on issues related to transparency;
• Recommend ways that the agency can better explain its operations, activities, processes, and decision making, compatible with the agency’s goal of appropriately protecting confidential information;
• Identify information FDA should provide about specific agency operations, activities, processes, and decision making, including enforcement actions, recalls, and product approvals;
• Identify problems and barriers, both internal and external, to providing useful and understandable information about FDA activities and decision making to the public, taking into consideration health literacy and the needs of special populations;
• Identify appropriate tools and new technologies for informing the public;
• Recommend changes to FDA’s current operations (e.g., internal policies and procedures, standards, information formats,  and guidance) to improve the agency’s ability to provide such information to the public in a timely and effective manner;
• Recommend legislative or regulatory changes, if appropriate, to improve FDA’s ability to provide such information to the public; and
• Submit a written report to the Commissioner on the Task Force’s findings and recommendations.

Implementation of the Task Force’s recommendations should make agency actions, decisions, and underlying processes more transparent to the public, while still meeting the agency’s goal of appropriately protecting confidential information.  Further, implementation of the recommendations should also reduce the need for requests by the public for agency information under FOIA.

Report to the Commissioner

The Task Force will submit a written report to the Commissioner approximately six months after the task force is convened. 

Membership of the Task Force

The Task Force will include the following individuals to provide high level, agency-wide representation:

• Principal Deputy Commissioner (Chair);
• Center Directors;
• Associate Commissioner for Regulatory Affairs;
• Chief Counsel; and
• Chief Scientist.