Agencies must standardize data labels.

President Bush has ordered federal agencies to simplify the labels they use to organize sensitive but unclassified information. According to FCW.com, the order requires agencies to adopt three standard labels in place of the more than 100 different markings they now use.

Government officials and lawmakers have expressed concern that an ad hoc proliferation of labels for handling sensitive data has hindered the sharing of terrorist-related information among federal agencies and state and local partners, FCW.com reported. Own-government groups also have criticized the confusing categorization of sensitive information because they say it prevents proper disclosure of unclassified data.

Bush's order directs agencies to use the Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) framework, which addresses the disclosure concerns of own-government groups and officials concerned with sharing data, said John Cohen, a spokesman for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence's Program Manager of the Information Sharing Environment.

However, the directive's effectiveness will depend on how agencies apply it and how well the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) oversees its implementation, FCW.com said. The order puts NARA in charge of implementation.

Patrice McDermott, director of OpenTheGovernment.org, told FCW.com that the new framework is a good first step, but a greater focus on disclosure would improve it. She said the framework should also limit how long information can be maintained in certain CUI categories.

Cohen's office has been working with NARA to prepare for the next steps, which include planning and implementation.

According to the directive, the new standards will not affect Freedom of Information Act requests, and they do not require agencies to classify or declassify any new or additional terrorism-related information. The directive also states that it may take five years for agencies to fully convert to the new labels and incorporate them into their information management processes and technology systems.