The stated rationale for President Trump's decision to reverse this policy-that releasing logs implicates "grave national security risks and privacy concerns"-is rebutted by experience: the Obama administration's policy included exceptions to protect national security and privacy.[1] Stripped of pretext, the Trump administration's decision to withhold the logs from the public reveals a concerning aversion to transparency and accountability".
The White House under former President Barack Obama voluntarily released over 6 million records of White House visitors.
According to Blanton, Obama's White House logs included nearly 6 million visitors, and there were no national security problems.
It was reported Friday that the White House will not make its visitor logs public.
President Donald Trump has pledged to "drain the swamp" of corruption in Washington - but the public will just have to trust him on that, because he's drawing a cloak of secrecy over his White House visitor logs.
Dubke noted that the administration will comply with Freedom of Information Act requests, but those only pertain to agencies on the White House ground, including the Office of Management and Budget, the Trade Representative's office and the Office of Science and Technology.
The White House announced Friday they will keep their visitor logs private, citing "grave national security risks and privacy concerns of the hundreds of thousands of visitors annually", according to a statement released by communications director Michael Dubke.
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GOP-sponsored robocalls featured urgent get-out-the-vote messages by Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. Thompson spent the final day of campaigning talking directly to voters.
The Trump administration's decision to roll back a measure that helped increase government transparency should worry anyone who believes politicians need to be held accountable, and the move is already drawing criticism from transparency experts. Examining the logs provides insight into which interests are lobbying the White House and who may have more influence in the administration.
Congressional Democrats have introduced legislation to require Trump to disclose visitors to any location where he "regularly conducts business" within three months of the visit.
Watchdog groups also want to know more about whom Trump is meeting with during his regular weekend trips to his resort in Palm Beach, Fla. "This week, we sued the Trump administration to make sure they would continue to release the logs".
"It's the exact opposite of 'draining the swamp", Donnelly said, referring to Trump's pledge to usher in a more ethical and less corrupt era in Washington.
At his inauguration speech in January, Trump told Americans, "We are transferring power from Washington, D.C. and giving it back to you, the people".
Under the new directive, records of those entering the White House complex will be kept confidential until at least five years after Mr Trump leaves office.
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