Open Government Plan
The Open Gov Initiative charged us to transform how government interacts with the public to be more open, transparent & collaborative. This plan reflects the work of our entire Department, lessons learned and explores the path forward. It is in this spirit of serving the nation through USDA's mission as "The People's Department" that we continue to fulfill Open Government principles.
Open Government Plan v4.0 (PDF, 874 KB)
Open Government Plan v3.0 (PDF, 426 KB)
Open Government Plan v2.0 (PDF, 247 KB)
Open Government Plan v1.1 (PDF, 825 KB)
Open Government Plan v1.0 (PDF, 536 KB)
USDA Plain Writing Plan
President Obama emphasized the importance of establishing "a system of transparency, public participation, and collaboration" in his January 21, 2009, Memorandum on Transparency and Open Government.
The Plain Writing Act of 2010 (PDF, 125 KB) requires that all federal agencies write "clear Government communication that the public can understand and use."
USDA Customer Service Plan
As required by Executive Order 13571 on Streamlining Service Delivery and Improving Customer Service, the USDA Customer Service Plan identifies key actions and initiatives aimed at improving the customer experience, modernizing and streamlining processes, reducing costs, accelerating delivery, and using innovative technology to advance customer service.
Read the Customer Service Plan (PDF, 1.4 MB)
USDA Final Regulatory Reform
USDA has developed a revised plan for reviewing its regulations. In this revised plan, USDA remains committed to minimizing the burdens on individuals, businesses and communities attempting to access programs that promote economic growth, create jobs, and protect the health and safety of the American people. Read our plan and learn more about the objective and focus of each agency within USDA, as well as the regulatory reviews process.
Read the Regulatory Reform Plan (PDF, 132 KB)
Retrospective Analysis Plan - January 2014 (PDF, 164 KB) | Retrospective Analysis Plan - January 2014 text-only (accessible) version (TXT, 22.8 KB)
Retrospective Analysis Plan - January 2013 (PDF, 125 KB) | Retrospective Analysis Plan - January 2013 text-only (accessible) version (TXT, 18.5 KB)
USDA Web Improvement Plan
As required by Executive Order 13571 on Streamlining Service Delivery and Improving Customer Service, the USDA Web Improvement Plan identifies the strategy, actions, measurements, and timelines that our Agency is using to streamline website infrastructure, improve web content, and enhance the customer experience with Executive Branch websites.
Read the Web Improvement Plan (PDF, 320 KB)