What are the government requirements for public access to research?
Answer
As of January 2023, there are no new requirements for researchers. The directive from the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) charges federal agencies that fund research to develop policies for research they fund. These policies will not take effect for several months or up to a year.
Most federal agencies already require public access to some degree. In those cases, the biggest change once the new policies are in place will be that embargoed public access will no longer be allowed.
OSTP published a fact sheet to help researchers and others understand the new guidance. It can be found at https://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/news-updates/2023/01/11/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-announces-new-actions-to-advance-open-and-equitable-research/.