Five weeks into his tenure, Biden has fallen short of his former boss, Barack Obama, on several fronts and is under pressure to do more to restore confidence in the federal government following Trump’s chaotic term in the White House.
Among the criticisms: the schedules for the president and vice-president are not posted online. The White House’s comment line is closed. There are no petitions for citizens on the White House website. The White House is committed to releasing visitor files. But it does not intend to disclose the names of the participants in virtual meetings, which is the primary way of interacting until the coronavirus pandemic eases.
And although Biden has received honors for keeping the American public informed, mainly by resuming daily press releases in the White House, he has not yet held his own press conference.
“The steps they have taken are welcome, but insufficient for the moment and the need,” said Alex Howard, a public advocate leading the Digital Democracy Project at the Demand Progress Educational Fund, an arm of a left-wing party. group. “They must continue to show ‘their work’ by opening cabinet meetings, disclosing information and using political capital to emphasize that ‘open by default’ is not just an option but an obligation in the government.”