Required Web Content and Links

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If you manage a public website in the federal executive branch, it’s a requirement to have certain content—or link to that content—from various places on your website. Here’s a table to help you comply with these requirements.

Required Link Suggested Link Label* Where It’s Required Source of Requirement
Privacy Policy—All federal public websites* must comply with existing laws and directives that address the need to protect the privacy of the American people when they interact with their government. Some of the key requirements for federal public websites include:

  • Conducting privacy impact assessments;
  • Posting privacy policies on each website, including instructions on how to “opt-out”of any Web tracking and measurement technologies the agency may use;
  • Posting a “Privacy Act Statement” that tells visitors the organization’s legal authority for collecting personal data and how the data will be used; and
  • Translating privacy policies into a standardized machine-readable format.
“Privacy Policy”

Your principal website

Any known major entry points to your sites

Any Web page that collects substantial information in identifiable form

OMB Guidance for Implementing the Privacy Provisions of the E-Government Act of 2002 (See Attachment A, Section III)
FOIA—All federal public websites* must comply with existing laws and directives that relate to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The principal requirement is that websites must have a page that includes certain content as required by the FOIA. This page should include information about how the public can request information under the Act. Organizations should review the FOIA and implementation guidance to ensure that their public websites meet the full range of requirements. “FOIA” or “Freedom of Information Act”

Your principal website

Any known major entry points to your sites

OMB M-05-04, Policies for Federal Agency Public Websites (PDF, 48 KB, 5 pages, December 2004)
Organizational Information

  • Mission
  • Statutory authority
  • Description of organizational structure
  • Strategic plan
  • Budget and performance reports (and link to required page as described below)
  • Small business point-of-contact
“About Us”

Your principal website

Any known major entry points to your sites

OMB M-05-04, Policies for Federal Agency Public Websites (PDF, 48 KB, 5 pages, December 2004)
Inspector General audits and investigative reports and a method for reporting evidence of waste, fraud, or abuse to the Inspector General “Office of the Inspector General” Homepage of each executive department and agency Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY 2008, Division D, Title VI, Section 534
Budget and Performance Reports

  • Strategic plan
  • Annual performance plan (APP) and Annual performance report (APR)
  • Annual financial statements
  • GAO high-risk improvement plans with status of implementation (if not included in APP and APR)
  • Inspector General audits and investigative reports, and a method to report evidences of waste, fraud, or abuse to the Inspector General
“Budget and performance” Homepage OMB Circular A-11, Part 6
No Fear Act Data—All federal public websites* must comply with the existing No Fear Act Notification and Federal Employee Anti-Discrimination and Retaliation of 2002 (No Fear Act) Public Law No. 107-174). Organizations should review the relevant law to ensure that their public websites meet the full range of requirements. “No Fear Act Data” Homepage See final rule issued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
USA.gov USA.gov logo or text “USA.gov: The U.S. Government’s Official Web Portal”

Your principal website

Any known major entry points to your sites

OMB M-05-04, Policies for Federal Agency Public Websites (PDF, 48 KB, 5 pages, December 2004)Also see the E-Gov Act of 2002 (PDF, 209 KB, 72 pages, December 2002), which mandates a “Federal Internet Portal”
Cross-agency portals, as required by law or policy See individual requirements for your agency See individual requirements for your agency OMB M-05-04, Policies for Federal Agency Public Websites (PDF, 48 KB, 5 pages, December 2004)

*These requirements apply to executive departments and agencies and their public websites. Check the specific law to see if it also applies to the judicial or legislative agencies or to intranets.

**The Federal Web Managers Council recommends that government agencies use consistent link labels for common content found on government websites. These recommendations are based on industry standard link labels and a usability study of common government terms usability study of common government terms (MS PowerPoint, 144 KB, 49 slides, July 2004).

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