By Vivienne Russell | 9 July 2013

US President Barack Obama has pledged to pursue an ‘aggressive management agenda’ that will make the federal government smarter, more innovative and more accountable.

The president also made a pitch for the ‘brightest minds’ in the private sector to come and work with the government.

In a speech yesterday, Obama renewed his commitment to providing more government services and assistance online and opening up more government data to public scrutiny.

He hailed the progress made to date in these areas, but added: ‘Now we need to do more… I directed the Cabinet to develop an aggressive management agenda for my second term that delivers a smarter, more innovative and more accountable government for its citizens. And we’re going to continue to adopt good ideas from the private sector.’

Sylvia Mathews Burwell, director of the Office of Management and Budget, has been asked to lead this effort.

The president said he wanted to make more government processes intelligible and accessible to ordinary people and small business.

‘Currently, when our government asks for bids on a project, it’s usually written in complicated language with complicated requirements that most people don’t understand,’ he said.

‘We’re working to make things simpler so it’s easier for more small businesses across the country to bid on projects.’

A project called MyUSA will save citizens times by storing basic information and allowing individuals to track their benefits claims.

Highlighting Mathews Burwell's previous work for the Wal-Mart Foundation and the Gates Foundation, Obama said he wanted more talented people from the private sector to join the public service.

‘I’m going to be asking more people around the country – more inventors and entrepreneurs and visionaries – to sign up to serve.