To promote accountability by coordinating and conducting oversight of Recovery funds to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse and to foster transparency on Recovery spending by providing the public with accurate, user-friendly information.

Presumably, he will visualize the data for the American public see where their $787 billion in economic stimulus tax money is going to help revive the US economy. Turning to Tufte, the father of modern data visualization, is a brilliant move by Obama and a big win for innovation. Read Edward Tufte’s presidential appointment.

I’m doing this because I like accountability and transparency, and I believe in public service. And it is the complete opposite of everything else I do. Maybe I’ll learn something. The practical consequence is that I will probably go to Washington several days each month, in addition to whatever homework and phone meetings are necessary.
—Edward Tufte

I am looking forward to seeing more visual thinking coming from the government.