Linking to a White House statement in which , Red Hat president/CEO Jim Whitehurst said open source provides an answer to calls for transparency and participation.

" is excited that the Obama administration recognizes the value of open source beyond software. Open source principles are changing how we learn, how we share information, how developers create, and how companies do business. Now it has the opportunity to change our government," Whitehurst said.

"Open source can provide an effective way for government to cut costs and ensure open access to information," Whitehurst said. "Lowering the costs of infrastructure will help provide resources for our government to focus on finding solutions to the challenges that lie ahead."

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Linux and open source have brought choice and savings in the private sector, and some governments have adopted open source as an alternative to "expensive, proprietary technology," said Whitehurst.