GOOD Act Mandates Online Publication of All Federal Agency Guidance Documents: Transparency Boost for Businesses and Citizens

The "Guidance Out Of Darkness Act," or GOOD Act, is all about shedding light on the often-murky world of federal agency guidance. This bill forces federal agencies to publish all their guidance documents – think memos, bulletins, even blog posts that lay out policy interpretations – online in one central location. No more hunting through different agency websites or filing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests just to figure out how an agency interprets the rules.

Shining a Light on Agency Guidance

The core of the GOOD Act is simple: transparency. Right now, agencies can issue guidance that significantly impacts how businesses operate, how regulations are enforced, and even how individuals interact with the government. But finding these documents can be a nightmare. This bill changes that by requiring agencies to put everything in one place online, within 180 days of the law's enactment. (Section 3(b)).

Imagine a small business owner trying to understand new EPA regulations. Instead of sifting through endless pages on the EPA website, they'll be able to go to a single, dedicated site, find the relevant guidance, and see exactly how the EPA plans to interpret and enforce the rules. Or consider a farmer trying to understand eligibility requirements for a USDA program, or a veteran looking for clarification on VA benefits. The GOOD Act is designed to make this kind of information readily available to everyone.

One-Stop Shop for Guidance

Within 90 days of the Act becoming law, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will designate a single website to host all agency guidance documents (Section 4). Each agency will also have to provide a clear, easy-to-find link to this central repository on their own website. Think of it as a master directory for all the "how-to" guides of the federal government. And, if a guidance document is rescinded, agencies have to keep it online, clearly marked, with the date of rescission and any relevant court case number if a court order was involved (Section 6).

What's the Catch?

Of course, there are some limitations. The GOOD Act doesn't apply to documents or information already protected from disclosure under FOIA (Section 5). Things like national security information or internal personnel rules won't suddenly become public. Also, it's worth noting that just because an agency publishes guidance doesn't automatically make that guidance legally binding (Section 7). The Act is about access to information, not about changing the legal weight of the guidance itself.

The Big Picture

The GOOD Act is a significant step towards greater government transparency. By making agency guidance readily available, it empowers citizens, businesses, and organizations to understand the rules of the game. It also puts a spotlight on agency actions, potentially leading to greater accountability. Five years after the Act's enactment, the Comptroller General will report to Congress on how well agencies are complying (Section 8), so there's a built-in mechanism to check if the law is actually working as intended. While it will be important to make sure agencies don't try to define