In a new report released today, OpenTheGovernment.org concludes that the increase in government secrecy during the Bush administration has been “unprecedented”:
In the past six years, the basic principle of openness as the underpinning of democracy has been serious undermined. The Administration has taken an extreme view of the power of the presidency. In its view, its powers to operate are largely unchecked by the Congress, courts, states or the public.
Existing laws on openness have been undermined while secrecy is increased. The Administration has issued executive orders placing limits on the Freedom of Information Act and Presidential Records Act, expanded the power to classify information for national security reasons, and created a whole range of new categories of “sensitive” information. Classification of information has nearly doubled while efforts toward declassification have largely been stopped and many records were secretly reclassified.
Read the full report HERE.