US President Barack Obama’s administration has proven to be the most restrictive with respect to freedom of information in over five decades, former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) analyst Raymond McGovern told Sputnik on the sidelines of the US-Russian Forum in Washington, DC.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — McGovern was commenting on the Obama administration’s recent decision to cease accepting Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, which stands in stark contrast to the progressive platform Obama ran on as a candidate.

“This has been the least transparent administration in my memory and that goes back 52 years here in Washington,” McGovern said on Thursday.

The White House announced on March 17 that its Office of Administration, which provides administrative and business services to the White House, would be exempted from FOIA requests as there is no legal basis for it to be subject to FOIA provisions.

“I hate to say this but, the guy is a fraud. Whether he came in being a fraud or he got scared with all the people he has to kowtow to. It doesn’t really matter now does it?” McGovern said.

White House Spokesperson Josh Earnest told journalists that the administration is proud of its transparency record as it has been committed to responding to Freedom of Information Act requests.