At a public meeting held on January 14, 2026, in the U.S. Capitol, the Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB) called for a comprehensive declassification review of all remaining classified records related to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, with the goal of releasing as much information as possible to the public.
In their remarks, Board members emphasized that, more than two decades after 9/11, continued classification of large volumes of records raises serious questions about transparency, accountability, and public trust. The PIDB reiterated its view that agencies must justify continued secrecy of these historically significant records.
Throughout the meeting, the Board highlighted the importance of conducting a systematic, government-wide review of all 9/11-related materials, rather than relying on piecemeal or agency-specific approaches. Members stressed that meaningful progress requires clear direction, sufficient resources, and enforceable timelines to ensure that records are reviewed promptly and released wherever possible.
Guests speakers at the meeting noted the broader public interest at stake. Survivors, first responders, family members, researchers, veterans of the Global War on Terrorism, journalists, and the general public continue to seek a full accounting of the events surrounding 9/11 and the government’s response. The Board emphasized that transparency is essential not only for historical understanding, but also for informed oversight of national security policies that continue to shape government actions today.
Importantly, the Board framed declassification as a proactive obligation. It called on Executive Branch agencies to adopt a presumption of disclosure for 9/11 records, subject only to narrowly tailored and well-justified redactions where genuine national security concerns remain.
The January 14 meeting reinforced the PIDB’s longstanding position that excessive classification undermines national security and public trust. The clear result is an erosion of faith in our democratic institutions, as frustrated Americans turn to other avenues – including conspiracies and misinformation – in seeking explanations not forthcoming from their government.
In calling for the review and release of all remaining 9/11 records, the Board signaled that the time has come for a decisive shift toward transparency.
In our next blog post, we will highlight two items that are of the highest priority to the board for declassification review and release.
The first item is a 7,000-word summary compiled by the 9/11 Commission after reviewing all Presidential Daily Briefings that mentioned al-Qaeda, Osama Bin Laden, Afghanistan, or other closely related topics in the 3 years preceding 9/11/2001.
The second item is comprised of transcripts of interviews conducted by the 9/11 Commission with President Bill Clinton, Vice President Al Gore, National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, National Security Advisor Samuel Berger, National Coordinator for Security, Infrastructure Protection, and Counterterrorism Richard Clarke, and Chief of the Central Intelligence Agency’s Bin Laden unit Michael Scheuer.