Bush Wants Information Requests Streamlined

President Bush directed federal agencies to be more efficient in dealing with requests for government information, but he left in place a 4-year-old policy that restricts access under the Freedom of Information Act.

Bush signed an executive order calling on agencies to take several consumer-friendly steps, including streamlining the handling of requests under the information act and appointing senior officials to monitor compliance with the law.

The directive does not address a complaint of news organizations and other advocates of open government that too much information is withheld from the public.