Data.gov

In an era when digital data is generated at astonishing rates, the U.S. government is still considered the foremost data authority for its unmatched resources and comprehensive scope (Moss & Ernsthausen, 2012). Given its influence, data collected and published by the U.S. government can move financial markets, shape policy debates, and even inform market research initiatives. It can also foster the creation of whole new industries. For example, Bill Clinton’s May 2000 directive to unscramble Department of Defense Satellite data for civilian use spurred remarkable advances in Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. The application of GPS now contributes tens of billions of dollars to the economy each year and is often touted as a successful example of how open government initiatives can encourage private innovation (Thaler & Tucker, 2013). In this spirit of open government, Data.gov was launched on May 21, 2009, as a central portal connecting the public to government-generated data sets. Since then, Data.gov’s catalog has grown to include more than 75,000 datasets. This number will increase considerably in the coming months and years, as a result of President Obama’s May 9, 2013, Executive Order that all