Accountability in Government Quotes

Secrecy in government, in the public mind, becomes synonymous with deception in government.

President Truman made his name by looking into contracting. And that's how integrity within the military procurement started in the United States.

Before the Freedom of Information Act, I used to say at meetings "The illegal we do immediately. The unconstitutional takes a little longer." [...] But since the Freedom of Information Act, I'm afraid to say things like that.

In a political system based on speeches, how can it be safely administered if the speeches are not true?

Sometimes, when asked the what-do-you-do question, it occurs to me to say that I work for the government. I have a government job, essential to national security. I AM A CITIZEN. Like the Supreme Court judges, my job is for life, and the well-being of my country depends on me. It seems fair to think that I should be held accountable for my record in the same way I expect accountability from those who seek elected office. I would like to be able to say that I can stand on my record and am proud of it.

We are going to be a government of no surprises and no excuses; a government which keeps its commitments and a government which is straight and candid with the Australian people and that's what we intend to do.

So far at least, the Department of Government Efficiency looks like something of a misnomer. It’s early days but it seems less DOGE and more DOGA, a Department of Government Accountability. Since that acronym doesn’t really work, perhaps it could be called Making American Government Accountable—and you could even save a few hundred thousand dollars by repurposing some red hats.

For Trump, the reasons to release his tax returns have always been compelling. Doing so would show the American people he doesn't just talk about accountability and transparency but also walks the walk.