Public Records Free Directory Blog

President Obama announced in September that White House visitor logs will be available to the public on a regular basis, a decision distinctly at odds with the former administration’s policies. This new policy applies to visitors after September 15th, 2009 and the first online posting of visitors will occur around the end of the year. There are several exceptions to this disclosure policy – personal guests of the Obamas, visitors whose disclosure would compromise national security and those who come for sensitive meetings, an example being a Supreme Court nominee. Those in the later category will be disclosed after they are no longer sensitive.

This new policy does not apply to the vice president’s residence nor to Camp David or Air Force One.

The disclosure policy is voluntary and there is no oversight nor will future presidents be bound by it, however, the precedent will be set and hopefully the seed of full disclosure will continue to grow.

We here at the Free Public Records Directory are pleased at the move towards transparency in the White House. We look forward to the initial release of visitor logs and will be sure to post them on our directory.