Open Government, USA
APIFree API for US Federal, State & Local Government Open Data
Overview
The Open Government USA API (via data.gov) provides RESTful access to thousands of public datasets from U.S. federal, state, and local government agencies. Endpoints include dataset search, metadata retrieval, and resource access. Responses are primarily JSON for API interactions, with datasets available in CSV, XML, JSON, or Excel. Use cases include civic app development, research on public policy, journalistic investigations into government programs, and citizen access to transparency data like budget stats, environmental records, or health metrics.
Example Integration (JavaScript)
fetch('https://www.data.gov/')
.then(res => res.json())
.then(data => console.log(data))
.catch(err => console.error(err)); Key Features
- RESTful
- JSON Support
- No Auth Required
- Multi-Level Gov Data Access
- Multiple Dataset Formats
Frequently Asked Questions
? Is Open Government, USA free to use?
Yes, the API offers full free access to all public datasets on data.gov without subscription fees.
? Does it require an API Key?
No, basic API access (search, metadata retrieval) does not need an API key; some advanced features may have exceptions.
? What is the response format?
API interactions return JSON, while datasets are available in formats like CSV, XML, JSON, or Excel depending on the source.
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Tool Info
Pros
- ⊕ Free & Open Access
- ⊕ Vast Collection of Public Datasets
- ⊕ Regularly Updated Metadata
Cons
- ⊖ Rate Limits for High-Volume Requests
- ⊖ Inconsistent Data Quality Across Sources
- ⊖ Some Datasets Lack Detailed Documentation