"Obama Commits to Declassification, Begins Shift in Classification Programs" (The National Security

[bobthedrummer]

Archive 1-4-2010)

"Public Engagement Impacts Presidential Action"

On December 28, 2009 President Obama issued Executive Order 13526 Concernin National Security Information...

http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/news/20100104/index.htm

Gee, much of that material could lead to indictments of war criminals and torturers hiding behind the broad shield of "national security"-but it won't...

[pinto]

1. This is a good step.

Washington, DC, January 4, 2010 - On December 28, 2009, President Obama issued Executive Order 13526 Concerning Classified National Security Information (the "Executive Order") and a Presidential Memorandum setting goals for declassification of historical records, a reduction in the number of original classification authorities, and promoting the use of new technologies in declassification. In the Memorandum, President Obama states:

"I expect that the order will produce measurable progress towards greater openness and transparency in the Government's classification and declassification programs while protecting the Government's legitimate interests, and I will closely monitor the results."

The Memorandum goes on to commit that "a backlog of more than 400 million pages of accessioned Federal records previously subject to automatic declassification shall be addressed in a manner that will permit public access to all declassified records from this backlog no later than December 31, 2013."

"President Obama is heading in the right direction to reduce excessive secrecy," said Meredith Fuchs, the Archive's General Counsel. "The focus on achieving public access to declassified records is directly responsive to the needs of the historical community."

[pinto]

2. Press release from the US Archivist, David S. Ferriero -

http://www.archives.gov/press/press-releases/2010/nr10-33.html

Press Release
December 30, 2009

Archivist of the United States Announces Establishment of the National Declassification Center
FAQs About the National Declassification Center (NDC)

Washington, DC…Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero announced today the establishment of the National Declassification Center (NDC) within the National Archives and Records Administration.

The creation of the NDC is specified in the new Executive Order on Classified National Security Information signed by President Obama on December 29, 2009. Specifically, the NDC is charged with streamlining declassification processes, facilitating quality assurance measures, and implementing standard training for declassification reviewers.

In making the announcement, Mr. Ferriero said “The Federal government has reached a watershed moment in records declassification. The current backlog is so huge that Americans are being denied the ability to hold government officials accountable for their actions. By streamlining the declassification process, the NDC will usher in a new day in the world of access, allowing the National Archives to make more records available for public scrutiny much more quickly.”

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http://www.archives.gov/press/press-releases/2010/nr10-33.html