President Barack Obama promised to run the most open administration in history. His White House website still declares: “My Administration is committed to creating an unprecedented level of openness in Government.” But the agencies under the president have fallen far short of that pledge.
Last year The Associated Press even reported that the Obama administration had set a “new record” for censoring documents requested under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) or denying them altogether. Federal inspectors general, who report on the efficiency and credibility of federal agencies to Congress, are an important additional way for the public to find out what government is up to.
By law they are supposed to have unfettered access to all agency documents when performing an audit or pursuing a complaint. Continue…
—————————