Executive Branch Information Transition 2024-2025
DOGE – the Death of Government Expertise (h/t @RadioFreeTom (Tom Nichols)
Full Project 2025 Text: Mandate for Leadership (searchable) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KUyS2FsTjHrR3NDP8zJX1pa2VMv4eJqD/view
End Of Term Archive presentation for GovInfoWatch 12/05/2024 (Information on how to contribute to the project can be found at https://eotarchive.org ) EPA alumni ready to resist Trump — again Robin Bravender | 08/05/2024Press-Release-Ramzi-Bin-al-Shibh-Defense-Statement.pdf 25 September 2023 DPC-OSP-OMB AI Letter 13 June 2023 Letter to the House Administration Committee – Oversight Hearing on the Office of Congressional Ethics Hearing 12 June 2023 Civil Rights Letter to FTC 7 June 2023 Organizational Letter to USGS on Pesticide Mapping Comment Circular A 4 and EO on Modernizing regulations 6 June 2023 Organizational Letter to USGS on Pesticide Mapping 15 May 2023 Human Rights Coalition Letter Opposing EARN IT [Eliminating Abusive and Rampant Neglect of Interactive Technologies] Act 2 May 2023 The Identity Project, Gov Info Watch, et.al Comments on NPRM, “Advance Passenger Information System: Electronic Validation of Travel Documents”, USCBP-2023-0002 3 April 2023 Opportunities for Fairness in Farming Act Letter 29 March 2023 Coalition Letter on Presidential Records Act Reform 22 March 2023 Coalition letter on Law-enforcement database 14 March 2023 Group Comments to OIRA on Public Engagement 10 March 2023 1 Letter to Pres Biden on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework w recs for transparent & participatory process 1 March 2023 Letter to DHS Sec Mayorkas – cancel ICE’s contract with LexisNexis and stop ICE from using data brokers 23 February 2023 Fix Office of Congressional Ethics Provisions in House Rules 4 Jan 2023
2022 Re Census Bureau’s review of the Population Estimates Program and the resumption of a population estimate appeals process 22 Dec 2022 Letter to Pres Biden calling for release of the new lethal force policy and associated counter-terrorism strategy 19 December 2022 PRESS_Act_Coalition_Letter to Sen. Schumer 12 December 2022 Letter to Rep. Nadler re SCOTUS hearing and continued commitment to bringing transparency and accountability to the Supreme Court of the United States 8 December 2022 Letter to Pres Biden re our concern that existing forms of federal assistance to state and local law enforcement will be used to support state and local surveillance and investigations of reproductive health activities 7 December 2022 Coalition Letter on OLC Transparency Amendment to FY2023 NDAA 9 November 2022 Letter to Senators Reed and Inhofe re Reforms to National Guard Deployment Authorities and the Posse Comitatus Act in the FY2023 National Defense Authorization Act 3 November 2022 Letter to Speaker Pelosi on Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal and Transparency (SCERT) Act 23 September 2022 Letter to Sen Schumer and Speaker Pelosi urging the inclusion of the “Establishing New Authorities for Businesses Laundering and Enabling Risks to Security Act” (ENABLERS Act) in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (NDAA) 1 October 2022 Call for a Transparent and Participatory Negotiating Process for the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) and Future Trade Negotiations 22 July 2022 Letter to Pres Biden re US Counter-Terrorism Review in light of military excursions into Somalia letter 10 August 2022 Follow Up Letter DHS Privacy and USCIS 31 May 2022 Human Rights & Security Coalition Letter on Torture-Derived Evidence 31 May 2022 Letter urging support of Non-Disclosure Order Fairness Act 27 May 2022 Letter thanking Archivist of the United States David Ferreiro 29 April 2022 Letter of Support for PLUM Act for transparency and oversight of senior level Exec Branch officials 28 April 2022 Letter to Chairman Nadler & Ranking Member Jordan Opposing “Pro CODES” Act 21 April 2022 Letter to House Science Committee urging passage of the Scientific Integrity Act to safeguard the rights of scientists working at
federal agencies 21 March 2022 Letter to Senate urging support of DOJ OLC Transparency Act 16 March 2022 Letter to Pres Biden re signing statement for the FY 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) asserting authority to withhold from Congress information required by law 10 February 2022 Letter to Director of DOD Operational Test & Evaluation re Annual Report assertion of Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) designation for findings 9 February 2022 Letter to President Biden calling for transparency and accountability re US-caused Civilian Harm 8 February 2022 Call to Secretary Raimondo to Release Calendars 1 February 2022 Amici brief to U.S. Supreme Court in Taub v Thompson re whether Donald J. Trump could prevent disclosure of records in face of Pres Biden’s waiving of privilege 5 January 2022
2021 Letter to Sens Schumer and McConnell encouraging improved online public access to bills and amendments considered on the Senate floor 9 December 2021 Letter to House Rules Committee in strong support of the Jacobs amendment to the Protecting Our Democracy Act which would allow all members who serve on committees the authority to designate one personal office staffer as eligible to apply for a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance. 7 December 2021 Statement of Members of the Human Rights and Security Coalition on “Closing Guantánamo: Ending 20 Years of Injustice” Before the Senate Judiciary Committee December 7, 2021 7 December 2021 Letter to Reps Johnson & Raskin and Sens Whitehouse & Padilla in support of Bivens act to amend 42 U.S.C. § 1983 to ensure that federal officials are held to same standards as state & local officials when constitutional rights are implicated 7 December 2021 Letter to Senators Durbin and Grassley supporting their efforts to bring the Open Courts Act (S. 2614) to a vote before the Senate Judiciary Committee 6 December 2021 Letter to DOD Secretary Austin – urging robust accounting for and reckoning with the civilian harm of the last twenty years, and
committing to finally implementing structural changes to prioritize civilian protection andaccountability for civilian harm These efforts need to incorporate civil society, and, wherever possible, communities impacted by U.S. military operations and lethal strikes. 1 December 2021 Letter to SASC & HASC Chairs & Ranking Members – requesting urgent congressional oversight of U.S. civilian harm
policies and adherence to international humanitarian law in light of recent reporting that the U.S. military hid the consequences of an airstrike in Baghuz, Syria that may have killed dozens of civilians and wasflagged as a possible war crime by at least one Defense Department lawyer. 30 November 2021 Letter to OMB Acting Director Shalanda Young encouraging prioritizing implementation of President Biden’s Jan 20 2021 memorandum “Modernizing Regulatory Review” 17 November 2021 Thank You letter Peters and Portman (HSGAC) for work to advance legislation to improve the federal IG system16 November 2021 Coalition Endorsement to Senators Schumer & McConnell of Access to Congressionally Mandated Reports Act 15 November 2021 Letter to Senate & House Approps Committee leaders – provide the Census Bureau with no less than $1.442 billion in the final
FY 2022 CJS bill and consider request to provide the agency with $2 billion in FY 2022 8 November 2021 Letter to Senators endorsing the Private Prison Information Act Endorsement Letter 2021 28 October 2021 Letter to DHS Sec Mayorkas – stop use of expensive, disproportionately invasive, and non-transparent surveillance tools under the guise of “streamlined data sharing“ 27 October 2021 Letter to Senators Peters & Portman (HSGAC) on Inspectors General Reform 5 October 2021 Thank you letter to Rep Al Green for sponsoring the Whistleblower Protection Reform Act of 2021 (H.R. 5485 to amend the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 20 October 2021 Letter to Ambassador Rice, Chair Domestic Policy Council urging a high priority on ensuring that data-driven technologies protect civil rights, prevent unlawful discrimination, and advance equal opportunity 27 October 2021 Letter to Senators and Members – Congress Must Pass The Protecting Our Democracy Act 22 September 2021 Letter to House Rules leaders – make in order amendments to strengthen post–employment restrictions on and enhance
transparency of lobbying by former DOD personnel/Address Revolving Door in FY 22 NDAA 17 September 2021 Letter Urging Permanent SCOTUS Live Audio 8 September 2021 Coalition Letter — fill PCLOB Vacancies with nominees that will vigorously protect privacy and civil liberties while upholding government transparency 7 September 2021 Joint Comments to OSTP on Request for Information to Improve Scientific Integrity Policies 28 July 2021 Letter to Senators Peters & Portman in Support of Rob Santos as Census Director 27 July 2021 Ltr to Judiciary Committees for support and hearing on The Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act 20 July 2021 Scientific Coalition Letter on Aduhelm to HHS Inspector General 7 July 2021 Letter to President Biden demanding an end to the unlawful program of lethal strikes outside any recognized battlefield,
including through the use of drones 30 June 2021 Letter to Chairs & Ranking Members of Armed Services Committees in opposition to DOD’s proposal to exempt from disclosure unclassified information on “military tactic, technique, or procedure,” and on military “rule of engagement or rule for the use of force” 21 June 2021 Letter to AG Garland & Judiciary Committees leaders re Congress and Press Surveillance in 2017 & 2018 18 June 2021 Letter to Pres Biden re Data Flows Negotiations ensure new transatlantic data transfer deal is coupled with reform of government surveillance practices and provision of comprehensive privacy protections 10 June 2021 Letter_Assistant_Attorney_General_re OLC 26 May 2021 Human Rights & Security Coalition letter to IC leaders re review of Army Field Manual 2–22.3 use the opportunity the make revisions to the AFM to better safeguard against a return to U.S.torture in the interrogation context, and as a step toward dismantling the legal and policy structure of the “forever war” 20 May 2021 NGO Letter to Congressional Leadership re Police Accountability 19 May 2021 DOJ Must Review Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) Personnel and Install New Leadership 18 May 2021 Letter to Senate re George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021 (JPA) H.R. 1280 13 May 2021 Letter endorsing “Demilitarizing Local Law Enforcement Act of 2021” to end the 1033 Program 13 May 2021 Letter to Senators Schumer and McConnell – End Qualified Immunity 10 May 2021 Comments in response to Notice of Request for Public Comment on the Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad 29 April 2021 Statement on Appropriate Data for Redistricting 27 April 2021 Classification reform letter to President Biden 21 April 2021 Human Rights & Security Coalition letter re review of Army Field Manual 2–22.3 20 20 May 2021 Letter to DHS Secretary about the federal government’s use of Clearview AI facial recognition technology 19 April 2021 Letter to Ambassador Rice on Ethics.gov 15 April 2021 Support Letter for the Access to Congressionally-Mandated Reports Act (ACMRA) 13 April 2021 Letter to Senate Judiciary (Durbin & Grassley) on FOIA Hearings 7 April 2021 Letter to Attorney General Garland on FOIA 7 April 2021 Letter-265 Organizations Support Whistleblower Freedom of Speech Protections 1 April 2021 Letter to DHS Secretary re DHS Blocking Media Access at Border Facilities 24 March 2021 Letter in support of increased transparency and accountability in federal courts 8 March 2021 Make public OPM’s report on political appointees’ conversion to nonpolitical permanent positions 23 February 2021 Comments on Digitizing Permanent Records and Reviewing Records Schedules 15 February 2021
2020 Coalition Letter to Block Pres Trump from Firing Civil Servants and Burrowing Appointees 11 December 2020 President-Elect Biden Transition Letter on Regulations 9 December 2020 Letter to Sen. Warren & Rep. Pressley in support of COVID-19 in Corrections Data Transparency Act 3 December 2020 Letter to Pelosi-McCarthy Bring Intel Auth to Floor under Regular Order 24 November 2020 Letter to Congress to retain 3 amendments to NDAA 23 November 2020 Coalition Letter – Block new Trump Schedule F job classification 20 November 20 Letter on Continuation of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress in the 117th Congress 16 November 2020 Sign on comment on Dept of Education rulemaking guidance 2 November 2020 Thanking Rep. Eshoo for Surveillance Inquiries 27 October 2020 Graham-Feinstein Barrett Opposition Letter 16 October 2020 Letter to NARA re preserving presidential records 9 October 2020 Letter on Further Improving the House Committee on Appropriations 7 October 2020 Letter to Armed Services Committees – Preserve SIGAR ability of evaluate-audit spending 5 October 2020 97 Organizations Submit Comments to NARA re CBP Document Destruction Proposal (NARA-20-0017-0014; Control Number DAA-0568-2018-0001) 30 September 2020 Coalition Letter to Vote No on The Motion to Proceed – S. 3985 (JUSTICE Act) 23 June 2020 Restoring Science Protecting the Public_portfolio June 2020 Strengthening_the_Legislative_Branch_by_Increasing_its_302b_Allocation 22 June 2020 Sign-on Census Project letter re Census funding in Senate COVID package 22 June 2020 Coalition Letter Defund Police Surveillance 17 June 2020 COVID-19 Privacy + Civil Rights Principles_Coalition Letter_House 11 June 2020 Coalition Urges Open and Transparent Senate Proceedings Urges Open and Transparent Senate Proceedings 10 June 2020 Coalition_Letter_to_House_and_Senate_Leadership_on_Federal_Policing_Priorites_Final 1 June 2020 Final Wyden-Daines_House_Amendment letter (re 2020 reauthorization of USA FREEDOM Act) 18 May 2020 FINAL Comments on EPA Supplemental Science Proposal 18 May 2020 Letter to House Oversigh & Reform – Plum Book Transparency 4 May 2020 Data Coalition Public Endorsement Letter re Financial Transparency Act 24 April 2020 Transition-Letter-to-Biden re Need to demonstrate a high regard for good governance 23 April 2020 Stimulus Transparency Accountability Letter 21 April 2020 Coalition Letter to Bureau of Prisons – Demographic Data FINAL 21 April 2020 GIW Comments on Transparency in Stengtherning Transparency in Regulatory Science proposed rule 13 April 2020 Civil Society Support for IG removal protections 10 April 2020 Sign-on Letter on DoD Secret Spending 7 April 2020 COVID-19-Funding-Letter-FINAL inc key policies for public’s safety & fair/inclusive voting 22 Mar 2020 Public Interest_Jt Ltr Comment_Extension during COVID Emergency 19 Mar 2020 Letter House Comm on Judiciary re 215 amendments 26 Feb 2020 Safeguarding Americans’ Private Records Act (SAPRA) of 2020 Coalition Endorsement 12 Feb 2020 Letter re Restrictions_on_press_access_during_Senate_impeachment_trial 17 Jan 2020 FINAL Org sign-on – 30-day comment period extension request re asylum bar NPRM 2 Jan 2020
2019 Letter to National Archives and Records Administration Regarding Records Appraisal December 13, 2019 IC Whistleblower Reform letter 12 Nov 2019 Coalition Letter on Section 702 FINAL 17 Oct 2019 Support for Budget Justification Transparency Act of 2019 S. 2560 15 Oct 2019 Electronic Court Records Reform Act (ECRRA) Letter – Senate 15 Oct 2019 Open and Responsive Govt Act Sign on letter.FINAL 19 Sep 2019 Group Letter to House Leadership FAIR “Forced Arbitration Injustice Repeal” Act 18 Sep 2019 200+NGO Sign-on – FY20 DHS Priorities Sept. 2019 12 Sep 2019 FY 2020 302(b) Leg Branch Allocation Letter 9 Sep 2019 Letter re NDAA Lethal Targeting Provisions 19 Aug 2019 OFCCP-NPRM_RIN-1250-AA09_Religious-Exemption_Letter-from-Civil-Rights-Groups-to-Extend-Comment-Period 42-Orgs-Endorse-Amash-Lofgren 13 June 2019 CBO_Transparency_Letter Coalition Letter OLC (DOJ Office of Legal Counsel) Transparency – Appropriations 15 May 2019 Coalition Letter on Ofc of Technology Assessment 10 May 2019 OSHA Whistleblower Stakeholder Sign On Letter FINAL 9 May 2019 US SCt Amicus Brief re states’ exclusion of citizens from state/local docs on copyright claims 6 May 2019 Civilian Casualties_Letter_Congress_2020_NDAA 2 May 2019 Coalition Letter to DHS in opposition to surveillance activity 1 May 2019 Amicus Brief Department of Commerce v. New York supporting the lower court’s decision 2 April 2019 Groups File FOIA Request to Demand Transparency on Implementation of “Remain in Mexico” Policy 20 Feb 2019 Letter to Judge Jackson re General Order in FOIA Cases 20 Feb 2019 Electronic Court Records Reform Act Letter Senate 116th Congress 14 Feb 2019 Letter to Chairman Schiff re Closed HPSCI Meeting on 2019-02-06 5 Feb 2019 Joint Comments on Proposed Dept of Interior Rule – DOI-2018-0017, RIN 1093-AA26 29 Jan 2019 Request for Extension Interior FOIA Rulemaking 14 Jan 2019
2018 DHS-HHS Letter on use of info from detained children 28 Nov 2018 DOI Records Request Openness-Accountability Community Comments 26 Nov 2018 Openness-Accountability Community Comments urging NARA to reconsider the proposed Department of Interior records retention schedule (DAA-0048-2015-0003) and NARA’s Appraisal 26 Nov 2018Denaturalization Priorities 10.27.21 Letter to Ryan and Pelosi on Oversight of the IC 2018 16 Nov 2018 Government Information Watch DCRA Comment 8-10-18 Deaths in Custody Reporting Act (DOJ implementation/lack thereof) 24 Orgs Comments on BJS Data Collection NCRP 7 September 2018 Opposing Bureau of Justice Statistics request to state agencies about inmates’ citizenship & nationality Multiple Commenters IBBC SORN Privacy Act comments 30 August 2018 Comments on Notice of a New System of Records (SORN): Department of Homeland Security/ US Citizenship and Immigration Services -018 Immigration Biometric and Background Check System of Records; and Comments on Notice of Privacy Act Exemptions: Department of Homeland Security/ US Citizenship and Immigration Services-018 Immigration Biometric and Background Check System of Records PCLOB nominees letter to Senators Grassley & Feinstein 29 August 2018 Letter to Senate Judiciary re Kavanaugh records 27 August 2018 Sign-on Letter to Sec Mattis on DoD Secrecy 7 Aug 2018 Government Information Watch Comments on 2020 Census 7 Aug 2018 Opposing the addition of a citizenship question Comments on DHS External Biometric Records SORN 24 May 2018 Congressional Accountability Act Reform in the Senate 23 May 2018 Opposing S. 2794, the Protect and Serve Act of 2018 16 May 2018 Opposing H.R. 5698, the Protect and Serve Act of 2018, which creates a new crime for offenses that target law enforcement officers; bills such as this appear to be a political response to the growing national movement for police accountability 15 May 2018 Oversight.gov Coalition Support Letter 14 May 2018 MOTION FOR LEAVE TO FILE REDACTED VERSION OF MOTION FOR RELIEF RE TAPES AND DRAWINGS FINAL Motion to Order Director ODNI to search for tapes and drawings depicting petitioners torture, to report the results of that search under oath, and to deliver any responsive material to court security [re Gail Helt who revealed copies of torture videotapes, etc., had been sent to ODNI for archiving 1 May 2018 Coalition Letter Open Hearings With Service Chiefs Writing in protest of a reported decision not to have any public hearings on the budget with Service chiefs, and to instead hold closed, classified roundtables 13 Apr 2018 Letter in support of CHA Markup of ACMRA Supporting the bipartisan Access to Congressionally Mandated Reports Act (“ACMRA”) 5 Apr 2018 Senate Cong’l Accountability Act reform bill_Coalition letter Urging the Senate to act quickly to address discrimination and harassment within the legislative workforce 19 Mar 2018 AMICI CURIAE BRIEF IN OPPOSITION TO DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT AND IN SUPPORT OF PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT – FILED To ensure that the Central Intelligence Agency (“CIA”) and other agencies are not permitted to create such a significant exception to the well-established prior official disclosure doctrine that the doctrine itself is rendered virtually ineffective 16 Mar 2018 Haspel coalition letter Expressing grave concerns and asking that senators not advance her nomination until all of the records on her past involvement in the CIA torture program are declassified and released to the public 16 Mar 2018 Extreme-Vetting-Initiative FOIA-Request to DHS 1 Mar 2018 Reforms in light of Nunes Memo final Increasing Transparency and Oversight of the Intelligence Community 18 Feb 2018 Joint Statement on H.R.2579 Opposing H.R.2579, the Secure and Succeed Act of 2018; in its current form, if passed, this bill will expand the authority of the Department of Homeland Security beyond any meaningful oversight or accountability protections 14 Feb 2018 Coalition-Letter-to-Congress-on-GREAT-Act-and-nonproprietary-identifier Supporting the Grant Efficiency and Agreements Transparency Act (GREAT) Act (H.R. 4887) – federal spending data should be open and accessible to taxpayers and the public, free of charge or licensing restrictions 5 Feb 2018
2017 Nonprofit Net Neutrality Sign On Letter 12 Dec 2017 38 Orgs Support ACMRA 2017-12-11 11 Dec 2017 Letter In Opposition to FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017 30 Nov 2017 43 Orgs Support Poe-Lofgren -Shut the Backdoor- Amdt to USA Liberty 6 Nov 2017 Oppose USA LIBERTY w-o backdoor fix 31 Oct 2017 Release to One/Release to All Coalition Letter 31 Oct 2017 Coalition letter calling for release of President’s tax return 11 Oct 2017 Coalition Letter to DHS Opposing Extreme Vetting Initiative 10 Nov 2017 Comments Signed On -DHS-Alien-File 18 Oct 2017 Coalition_Letter_HJC_Urging_Stronger_USA_Liberty_Act_Backdoor_Fix 13 Oct 2017 Coalition letter urging the Joint Committee on Taxation and the IRS Commissioner to release Trump’s taxes to the public under 26 USC § 6103(k)(3) 11 Oct 2017 Coalition_Letter_Section_702_Backdoor_Search_Reform 2 Oct 2017 State Dept extreme vetting comments – FINAL SUBMITTED 10.2.2017 2 Oct 2017 Letter to House Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group FOIA 20 Sep 2017 Coalition letter on cross-border access by foreign governments to electronic communications and related data held in the United States – 9-20-17 urging Senators & Members to oppose this legislation in its current form if it is introduced as either a stand-alone bill or as part of another legislative vehicle 20 Sep 2017 Coalition Letter_Private Prison Information Sharing Act of 2017 (S.1728) Dear Senator letter urging support 0f S. 1728, legislation to apply the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to federally-funded private prison facilities 3 Aug 2017 Al-Darbi Coalition Letter expressing serious concern and opposition regarding recent decisions by the Department of Defense with respect to observation of the military commissions at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and the potential these decisions have to negatively affect transparency in the judicial proceedings occurring there 1 Aug 2017 Commerce Committee Letter urging the Senate Commerce Committee to hold a hearing on the state of media in the United States 27 Jul 2017 702-Coalition-Letter calling for reforms to FISA Sec 702 in light of civil rights concerns and potential for law enforcement misuse July 10, 2017