STATUS REPORT
decisions, which is the highest percentage of that short-term designation used to date. With respect to declassification, the executive branch reviewed 53.1 million pages of classified information, and declassified 29.1 million pages (55.4%). Over the course of 2010, NARA also oversaw efforts to improve the infrastructure for reducing the backlog of documents for declassification review. From January 2010 to April 2011, 104.9 million backlogged pages were initially reviewed, most of which require further review. Of those, nearly 12 million pages were released to the public. As with improving agency processes for administering the Freedom of Information Act, government-wide reform of classification and declassification requires sustained commitment. But with NARA's coordination and assistance, agencies have begun to make meaningful progress.
Limiting Use of Controlled but Unclassified Government Information
Formal classification is not the only way in which government documents are restricted. Agencies currently use many dozens of markings, such as "for official use only," to designate information that requires safeguarding or dissemination controls, referred to as "Controlled Unclassified Information" (CUI). In November 2010, President Obama issued Executive Order 13556 to standardize such designations and reduce agencies' over-reliance on them. As the President explained, agencies' "inefficient, confusing patchwork has resulted in inconsistent marking and safeguarding of documents," as well as "unclear or unnecessarily restrictive dissemination policies." To promote "openness and uniformity" across the government, Executive Order 13556 requires agency review of all forms of non-classified information withheld from the public. The Order instructs agencies to review their relevant practices, and to submit to the National Archives and Records Administration all of their proposed categories of CUI. It makes clear that CUI markings do not provide an independent basis for withholding information from the public. The Order also charges NARA with reviewing categories of such information and, in consultation with agencies and the public, with approving categories and subcategories to be applied uniformly throughout the executive branch. NARA is spearheading those efforts at present.
VII. WHITE HOUSE TRANSPARENCY
President Obama has done more than direct the executive branch to become more open. Leading by example, the White House has opened its own windows. It has provided the public with information about presidential scheduling, financial disclosures, ethics materials, and White House visitors. The President has also issued an executive order to provide increased access to Presidential Records.
Daily Schedules
Since July 2010, the White House has made the President's and the Vice President's daily public schedules available. Those schedules are available at the White House web site, Whitehouse.gov. In addition, anyone can subscribe the President's or Vice President's schedules electronically—sent, or added to one's own computer calendar, automatically. In this way, citizens have instant access to the President's and Vice President's public schedules.
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