The CIA Is Closing the Office That Declassifies Historical Documents

Daniel_Stuckey writes "As a result of the sequester-induced budget cuts, the CIA is closing the Historical Collections Division office, which declassifies historical documents, and transferring the divisions responsibilities to the office that handles FOIA requests. The Historical Collections Division is described on its website as 'an important part of CIA's ongoing effort to be more open and to provide for more public accountability.' It is a 'voluntary declassification program that focuses on records of historical value,' including information on the Vietnam War, spy satellites, the Bay of Pigs and other historical scandals and operations."

Comments

Typical

[TubeSteak]

CIA officials said they closed the Historical Collections Division to accommodate federal budget cuts that the White House and Congress proposed last year to create pressure for a deficit reduction deal. No deal materialized, so across-the-board budget cuts known as the sequester were imposed.

The real problem isn't that they're rolling this into their FOIA office, it's that they'll undoubtedly not move the personnel too.
Institutional knowledge is incredibly important in any organization and even more so for a group that deals with history.

Not to mention the fact that FOIA requests are always backlogged, 30 day response requirements be damned.

Re:Typical

[Trepidity]

This is one way, at least, in which the politicians who always promise to "run government like a business" seem to be keeping their word. When budget cuts come in the private sector, the corporate history/archival department is among the first to get axed. Sure, 30 years later you might need those documents, but that's a problem for someone 30 years later to sort out.

Impeach Obummer. His hope and change sucks!

[Anonymous Coward]

Obummer. You just can't trust him.

In b4 some liberal whines "BUT BUUUUUUUUUSH"! As if what the monkey boy Dubya did is any excuse for Obummer has been doing for the last 5 years.

Re:It not about paper

[Jeremiah Cornelius]

"Memory Hole" the new game, from Milton Bradley!

Look on the bright side. You now live in one of those cool, science fiction dystopias, that made things so interesting for your favorite protagonists.

Riiiight

[Anonymous Coward]

It's the "sequester". That's why.

Does anyone still believe Obama is about hope and change now?

Re:in b4 the liberals...

[Anonymous Coward]

you got someone better? No? Well, then. Looks like we're fucked.

Transparent and accountable

[Anonymous Coward]

an important part of CIA's ongoing effort to be more open and to provide for more public accountability.

Too bad we can't mod TFA, Score:5, Funny.

Re:It not about paper

[Camael]

So much for greater transparency.

Re:It not about paper

[Anonymous Coward]

Transparency is not core business... so it gets cut.

Re:It not about paper

[stenvar]

It's merely the lies that are becoming more transparent.