Executive order no. 13,233: A threat to government accountability

Public access to the presidential records covered under the Presidential Records Act of 1978 (PRA) has been restricted by the implementation of George W. Bush's Executive Order 13,233. This article examines the original intent and scope of the PRA, how Ronald Reagan's Executive Order 12,667 began the modification of the PRA with regards to claims of executive privilege, and how Bush's Executive Order 13,233, if left unchallenged, will create further significant alterations to the PRA. The article explores the controversies surrounding the signing of Executive Order 13,233, investigates the key issues raised by critics, and analyzes the long-term implications to government accountability and the accessibility of public records covered by the PRA.