White House website instantly reflects new President

The White House website has undergone significant changes to reflect the "open and transparent" nature of the administration of newly sworn-in President Barack Obama.

The 'new' WhiteHouse.gov

was updated at 12:01 p.m.
ET on Tuesday to reflect
new President Barack Obama.

Although Barack Obama had not yet finished his inaugural speech, at exactly 12:01 p.m. EST Tuesday, the White House website was updated with information about the new president, his proposed initiatives and policies, and his cabinet.

The site includes a number of new features, including a blog. The first post, entitled "Change has come to WhiteHouse.gov," calls the site "a place for the President and his administration to connect with the rest of the nation and the world."

A new feature that will garner a great deal of attention in the coming days is the page on which Obama's executive orders will be published.

The president is expected to issue a number of executive orders early on to set the tone for his administration. One of his first orders could be the closure of the military prison at Guantanamo Bay.

According to the blog, written by White House director of new media Macon Phillips, visitors to the website will also be able to:

- Sign up for email updates to stay on top of major presidential announcements and decisions.

- Read and comment on all non-emergency legislation, which will be posted for five days.

- View photo galleries of the president's first days in office, as well as the president's weekly video address.

"President Obama has committed to making his administration the most open and transparent in history, and WhiteHouse.gov will play a major role in delivering on that promise," Phillips writes. "The President's executive orders and proclamations will be published for everyone to review, and that's just the beginning of our efforts to provide a window for all Americans into the business of the government."