Agencies use new label for safeguarded docs

Open Data/Transparency

Agencies use new label for safeguarded docs

An executive order from President Obama orders agencies to use the label of \"Controlled Unclassified Information\" for documents that are safeguarded but not c...

Federal News Network Staff

November 5, 2010 1:46 pm

< a min read

By Jolie Lee
Federal News Radio

President Obama’s executive order on Thursday calls for all federal agencies to use the label “Controlled Unclassified Information” or CUI” for documents that should be safeguarded but not classified

Currently each agency has its own procedures and labels for classifying this information.

“This inefficient, confusing patchwork has resulted in inconsistent marking and safeguarding of documents, led to unclear or unnecessarily restrictive dissemination policies, and created impediments to authorized information sharing,” according to the executive order. ” The fact that these agency-specific policies are often hidden from public view has only aggravated these issues.”

The new order offers a “much more balanced approach to safeguarding limited types of government information,” said Scott Amey, general counsel of the Project on Government Oversight, in a release.

“We are pleased that the President states unequivocally that CUI doesn’t prevent access to government information, and when in doubt, information ‘should not be so designated,'” Amey said.