On April 12, the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously passed the Openness Promotes Effectiveness in Our National (OPEN) Government Act, sponsored by Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and John Cornyn (R-TX). However, the bill is now stuck after an unidentified senator placed an anonymous hold on the legislation that would improve the government's implementation of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Increasing pressure is being brought to bear on the Senate to uncover the hold and move forward with the bill.

At a briefing in the U.S. Capitol on May 8, the Open House Project, a collaborative effort by government information experts, congressional staff, nonprofit organizers and bloggers to develop attainable reforms to promote transparency in the House of Representatives, publicly launched its new report and recommendations. The project was initiated and is managed by the Sunlight Foundation, a nonprofit that strives to use the Internet and technology to ensure greater government transparency and accountability.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a final rule on May 10 to increase reporting of dioxin compounds, some of the most potent carcinogens, under the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) program.