Our Mission

OMB Watch exists to increase government transparency and accountability; to ensure sound, equitable regulatory and budgetary processes and policies; and to protect and promote active citizen participation in our democracy.

Our Vision

OMB Watch envisions a more just and democratic society, one in which an open, responsive government protects people’s health, safety, and well-being, safeguards the environment, honors the public’s right to information, values an engaged and effective citizenry, and adequately invests in the common good.

Our History

OMB Watch, a nonprofit research and advocacy organization, was formed in 1983 to lift the veil of secrecy shrouding the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB). OMB oversees federal regulation, the budget, information collection and dissemination, proposed legislation, testimony by agencies, and much more. While OMB's actions were having an enormous impact on agency operations and the pursuit of social justice, it remained largely behind the scenes — unaccountable and little understood by the public and public interest groups. By explaining governmental processes and monitoring OMB, OMB Watch helped bring sunshine to this powerful and secretive agency.

Our Work

Since its founding, OMB Watch has expanded its focus to address the substantive issues the organization originally began tracking in the course of monitoring OMB:

• Federal budget, taxation, and government performance;
• Information and access;
• Nonprofit action, advocacy, policy, and technology; and
• Regulatory policy.

Learn more about our work >>

Our 2007 Annual Report is now available >>

View our 2008 Work Plan >>