White House to cut access to half of federal websites

The Washington Times ^ | June 13, 2011 | Dave Boyer

[Free ThinkerNY]

As part of the Obama administration’s campaign to promote transparency, the White House announced today it intends to eliminate the public’s access to half of the federal government’s websites within the next year.

The White House said there are nearly 2,000 websites operated by the federal government, which it said confuses people.

“With so many separate sites, Americans often do not know where to turn for information,” the office of Vice President Joseph Biden Jr. said in a statement. “The administration will immediately put a halt to the creation of new websites. The administration will also shut down or consolidate 25% of the 2,000 sites over the next few months and set a goal of cutting the number of separate, standalone sites in half over the next year.”

It called the campaign of winnowing access to government web sites part of the president’s campaign “targeting duplication and waste.” The administration did not give an estimate of how much money it believes could be saved by halving the government’s Internet sites.

In a statement, Mr. Obama said, “as we work to tackle the budget deficit, we need to step up our game. No amount of waste is acceptable — not when it’s your money; not at a time when so many families are already cutting back.”

Mr. Biden hosted an event at the White House Monday to announce he is taking on a new role holding the Cabinet accountable for cutting waste in their agencies.

[kosciusko51]

As part of the Obama administration’s campaign to promote transparency, the White House announced today it intends to eliminate the public’s access to half of the federal government’s websites within the next year.

George Orwell, please pick up the white courtesy telephone...

[Red Badger]

Obliqueness is Transparency!
War is Peace!
Freedom is Slavery!
Democrats are sane!............

[EGPWS]

Just give us the d@mn tax funds, you don't need to know how we use them.

[ctdonath2]

[circlecity]

"It called the campaign of winnowing access to government web sites part of the president’s campaign “targeting duplication and waste.”

Wow, this will save at least a couple hundred thousand dollars. At that rate we'll have the deficit thingy solved in about 10,000 years or so.

[C210N]

public’s access to half of the federal government’s websites

That's an odd way of referring to a consolidation of web sites. Unless, its taking 50% of the currently publicly accessible websites, and making them internal only. The latter would fit the regime's modus operandi of saying one thing while doing the opposite.

[WayneS]

I am imprssed with the first line in this story. It is often quite difficult to insert good sarcasm in to a ‘straight’ news story, but I think the writer has done an excellent job in this case.

[Lucky9teen]

[Bitsy]

So, let’s see, Pelosi promised to “drain the swamp” and Obama promised “transparency” - we have a lose lose situation here. Seriously, this government is getting creepier by the second. Hurry up 2012. How can so many elitist, egotistical bimbos create so much havoc in so little time.

[Waverunner]

You mean this one...

[Lucky9teen]

When will the administration put a halt to the creation of new departments and programs???

When will the administration shut down or consolidate existing programs/departments that are wasteful, duplicitous, unconstitutional, et al???

THAT should be #1 priority, when it comes to “saving money”, not worrying about the internet, which I highly doubt will save much, if anything.

Just another distraction, IMO

[Buckeye McFrog]

I don’t think they can stop themselves from creating even more websites at a prolific rate of speed.

EatYourVeggies.gov
WearYourCondom.gov
DontTextAndDrive.gov
FlushInPublicRestrooms.gov
SnitchOnAnNRAMember.gov

etc. etc. etc...

[Navy Patriot]

I am impressed with the first line in this story. It is often quite difficult to insert good sarcasm in to a ‘straight’ news story, but I think the writer has done an excellent job in this case.

Yep, I actually started lookin' for the "John Semmens" name, I was so sure someone was pullin' my leg.

[Jess79]

I’d prefer they shut down half the federal agencies.

[Truth29]

Color me skeptical. I suspect they are having problems with government websites supplying data that contradicts the official line and there are so many of them they can’t keep effective control.

[NativeSon]

part of the president’s campaign “targeting duplication and waste.”

This is so important now, I'm glad our Prezident is doing something to preserve the last of North America's Great Old Growth Virtual Forests! His efforts will protect e-woodlands will preserve the special habitats of the e-dangered spotted pdf owl, the ubuntu virtual cougar and especially Gore's ether bunny.

[dforest]

Doesn’t matter, everything on them is most likely Obama lies.

Lying to your face with a captive TV audience is more fun.

[WilliamofCarmichael]

Headline?

White House puts guard on board federal Internet
Warder Boarding The Internet
"Too many stations confuse public. Wot? Sites?" says VP Biden

[mmichaels1970]

http://www.fiddlinforesters.gov/ is already down. Oh well, at least we have a cached copy to remember it by.