The U.S. Office of Management and Budget and the U.S. Congress set policy for Federal agencies. The Federal Geographic Data Committee, a Federal interagency coordinating committee, is guided by those policies in the design of programs, activities and technologies. The FGDC sets geospatial information policy in harmony with overall information policy.

The Federal Geographic Data Committee Secretariat engages in on-going strategic planning to ensure continued investment of resources in high value programs, activities and technologies.

OMB Circular A–16

This circular was created by the United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to provide guidance for federal agencies that create, maintain or use spatial data directly or indirectly through the establishment of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) and the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC).

OMB Circular No. A-16 , revised August 19, 2002

Supplemental Guidance to the A-16 - Provides the foundation for a portfolio management approach to nationally significant  geospatial data themes and associated datasets.

Fifty State Initiative 

A current FGDC activity to develop and implement statewide strategic and business plans that facilitate the coordination of programs, policies, and technologies in support of the NSDI.

• 50 States Initiative
• Revised Strategic and Business Plan Guidelines May 2009 
• Measures of Progress Report September 2009
• Next Steps Report September 2009 

Policy

A policy is an official plan or course of action intended to influence and determine decisions, actions and other matters. Guidelines denote one or more rules that describe a process.

• All the OMB Circulars that guide the FGDC policies
• Executive Order establishing the NSDI
• FGDC Policies
• FGDC Guidelines

Planning

OMB Circular A-16 assigned to the FGDC the responsibility to prepare and maintain a strategic plan for the development and implementation of the NSDI. The FGDC has completed three strategic plans.

• NSDI Strategic Plans

• Enterprise Architecture Planning

  • Geospatial Profile for the Federal Enterprise Architecture
  • Geospatial concepts seminar for executives and architects
  • Department of Interior Modernization Blueprint - Geospatial Component
• Future Directions
• Existing State Strategic and Business Plans