"Information quality" is the new buzz phrase in Washington, D.C. The Information Quality Act (IQA), passed in late 2000, has greatly influenced the way federal agencies disseminate information., a broadly defined term that includes just about any government document worth reading. The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) Of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) recently issued guidance on how federal agencies can ensure that all significant science documents are peer reviewed. This move has significant implications for industry. The IQA is remarkable for its lack of detail. It mandates that OMB establish government-wide standards for ensuring and maximizing the "quality, objectivity, utility and integrity" of information disseminated by federal agencies. OIRA issued final OMB Guidelines early last year, which, among other things, required issuance of agency-specific guidelines by October 2002. Several important issues remain unresolved. Significant debate continues, for example, over whether judicial review is available under the IQA. In August, the Competitive Enterprise institute filed a lawsuit in District Court that will help clarify whether a private party can sue for violations of the IQA and compel an agency to comply with the IQA. Another open issue is what level of oversight OMB intends to exercise over IQA matters. To date, OMB has been intensely involved, and many believe this will continue. Finally, a key question remains as to whether the threat of a "Request for Correction," which is the primary remedy for information failing to meet IQA's quality standards, will sufficiently inspire agencies to change the way they disseminate information.