Public Oversight Hearing Testimony of Director Allen FY 2025 - FY2026

Director of Open Government Niquelle Allen testified before the DC Council Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, chaired by the Honorable Brooke Pinto, for the Board of Ethics and Government Accountability's annual performance oversight hearing, on January 28, 2026. Due to the Snow Emergency, the hearing was conducted virtually. View the hearing here.

Director Niquelle Allen's FY 2026 Public Oversight Hearing Testimony At a Glance

Introduction & Mission

• Reinforces OOG’s role in ensuring transparency and accountability in D.C. government.
• Highlights enforcement of Open Meetings Act (OMA) and advisory role on D.C. FOIA compliance.

Performance Highlights

• Advisory & Compliance: Significant volume of FOIA and OMA advice requests; multiple advisory opinions issued.
• Meeting Monitoring: Hundreds of public meetings monitored; corrective actions taken for agenda violations.
• Training & Outreach: Robust training programs for OMA and FOIA compliance; strong community engagement.

Priorities for FY2026

• Advocate for stronger transparency laws.
• Expand compliance monitoring and audits.
• Increase outreach and training efforts.
• Website modernization and resource advocacy.

Legislative Recommendations

• Permanent remote access for public meetings.
• Establish a Transparency Commission to modernize FOIA and OMA.
• Include ANCs under OMA oversight.
• Enhanced enforcement with higher fines and litigation cost recovery.
• FOIA Ombudsman role for dispute mediation and binding opinions.
• Revise FOIA appeals process for efficiency.

Conclusion

• OOG remains a stabilizing force for transparency and public trust, committed to continuous improvement and collaboration.