OMB Policies for Federal Public Websites

OMB issued Policies for Federal Public Websites on December 17, 2004. Below are links to each section of the policy memo (PDF, 48 KB, 5 pages, December 2004). Under each section, you'll find recommendations and best practices from the Interagency Committee on Government Information (ICGI) to help you implement the policies.

Browse the OMB Web Policies (by Section)

• Establish and Maintain Inventories, Priorities, and Schedules
• Ensure Information Quality
• Establish and Enforce Agencywide Linking Policies
• Communicate With the Public and With State and Local Governments
• Search Public Websites
• Use Approved Domains
• Implement Security Controls
• Protect Privacy
• Maintain Accessibility
• Manage Records

Implementation Guidance

• Best Practices and Recommendations  (by topic)

Checklist

• Requirements and Best Practices Checklist

Download the OMB Memo and Related Policies

• OMB Policies for Federal Agency Public Websites
  (PDF, 48 KB, 5 pages, December 2004)

• OMB Circular A-130: Management of Federal Information Resources

• Major Implications of A-130 for Federal Web Content Managers
  (PDF, 140 KB, 12 pages, June 2005)

Who Needs to Comply with the Policies

The OMB policies apply to executive departments and agencies and their public websites. They do not apply to intranets or to websites of the judicial or legislative branches, unless specified. See the 2nd paragraph of the OMB policy memo (PDF, 48 KB, 5 pages, December 2004) for a more detailed explanation.

Additional Policies, Laws, and Regulations Related to Federal Public Websites

• Laws, Regulations, and Policies