President Joe Biden promised his administration would commit to the “highest standards of transparency.” More than halfway through his first year in office that promise appears to be little more than lip service. The president took commendable steps to restore ethics in the White House with an executive order that instituted an ethics pledge in the executive branch and swift revocation of several harmful Trump administration orders. That is why it is ironic Biden has been sluggish in taking bold actions on transparency and oversight. By delaying, the president is missing the opportunity to set the tone from the top for federal employees and embrace transparency as a core value.
Fortunately, if Biden is serious about transparency, there are simple, effective ways he can fulfill his promise. He can issue a memo that tangibly outlines his plans to restore and reform the executive branch’s commitment to public records laws, particularly the Freedom of Information Act. The president can also appoint a senior White House official to coordinate and enforce its transparency and ethics initiatives. These recommendations are critical to repairing the gaps in oversight the previous administration exposed and rebuilding trust in government.
Joy Huffine
Edmonds
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