Talk Radio News Service: News, Politics, Media

By Justin Duckham-Talk Radio News Service

In an attempt to boost government transparency, President Barack Obama issued an executive order Tuesday that would establish the National Declassification Center.

The center, which will be an arm of the National Archives, is intended "to streamline declassification processes, facilitate quality-assurance measures, and implement standardized training regarding the declassification of records determined to have permanent historical value," according to the order.

The center's director will be chosen by the U.S. Archivist following consultation with key Department heads.

Current Archivist David Ferriero applauded the decision.

"The Federal government has reached a watershed moment in records declassification," Ferriero said in a statement released Wednesday. "The current backlog is so huge that Americans are being denied the ability to hold government officials accountable for their actions."

Tuesday's order also limits the intelligence community's ability to put a hold on declassification decisions made by represenatives from other government agencies.