Obama Orders Review of Government Secrecy

President creates task force to overhaul declassification policy
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted May 28, 2009 1:50 AM CDT
Obama Orders Review of Government Secrecy
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano will head a task force to review the federal government's sharing of unclassified information with state governments and the private sector.   (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta )

President Obama has ordered a sweeping review of the government's secrecy policy, the Washington Post reports. Obama sent a memo to government officials reaffirming his administration's commitment "to operating with an unprecedented level of openness," and directed his national security adviser  to review how classified information is handled and to recommend changes that will bring greater transparency.

Obama has created a task force, headed by Attorney General Eric Holder and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, to improve federal agencies' sharing of unclassified national security information when appropriate. He asked advisers to look into restoring the "presumption against classification" that was introduced under the Clinton administration and removed under President Bush. (More Obama administration stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X