PIDB Posts Agenda for Executive Session Teleconference Held on January 11, 2022

On January 11, 2022, the Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB) met in executive session by video teleconference. PIDB Chair Ezra Cohen led the virtual meeting, which was attended by PIDB members Paul-Noel Chretien, Laura DeBonis, Trey Gowdy, Michael Lawrence, Ben Powell, Alissa Starzak, and John Tierney. The members discussed the requirement in section 1685 of … Continue reading PIDB Posts Agenda for Executive Session Teleconference Held on January 11, 2022

PIDB Receives Letter Regarding the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection

On April 26, 2021 the Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB) received a letter (click below to open letter) signed by several researchers and members of the public interested in the declassification and public release of records previously ‘postponed’ in 2017 and 2018. President Donald J. Trump previously certified agency postponement requests in accordance with the … Continue reading PIDB Receives Letter Regarding the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection

FOIA Advisory Committee Meeting Focuses on the Use of Technology in FOIA Processing; Access to Congressional Records and Reports

Yesterday (3/3/2021), the quarterly meeting of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Advisory Committee focused on the question of whether the FOIA should apply to Legislative and Judicial branch records. The committee heard briefings from public interest groups on this issue, as well as general reports from subcommittees about their priorities. The Technology Subcommittee continues … Continue reading FOIA Advisory Committee Meeting Focuses on the Use of Technology in FOIA Processing; Access to Congressional Records and Reports

Historical Advisory Committee Reports Progress from DOD and State Initiatives

The State Department’s Historical Advisory Committee (HAC) met virtually on March 1st to review progress on the Foreign Relations of the United States (FRUS) publication series. The Department of Defense (DOD) provided a briefing on its declassification review support to the FRUS program, while the Department of State provided a briefing on his automatic declassification … Continue reading Historical Advisory Committee Reports Progress from DOD and State Initiatives

New DNI Avril Haines Discusses Overclassification at Senate Confirmation Hearing

On Wednesday, January 20, 2021, Avril Haines was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in an 84-10 vote, to serve as the Director of National Intelligence (DNI). On Tuesday, as President Biden's nominee to serve as the DNI, Ms. Haines discussed the challenges of overclassification at a public confirmation hearing of the Senate Select Committee on … Continue reading New DNI Avril Haines Discusses Overclassification at Senate Confirmation Hearing

PIDB Wants You to Shape Classification, Declassification and Information Security Reform

When President-Elect Joe Biden takes office at noon on January 20, 2021, Executive Order 13526 (E.O.) will be over 10 years old. The E.O. “prescribes a uniform system for classifying, safeguarding, and declassifying national security information, including information relating to defense against transnational terrorism”— but a lot has changed over the past decade. Transnational terrorism … Continue reading PIDB Wants You to Shape Classification, Declassification and Information Security Reform

PIDB Posts Responses to Questionnaire from the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence

After PIDB Member John Tierney testified before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence in an open hearing on September 9, 2020, Acting Chairman Marco Rubio and Vice Chairman Mark Warner sent the PIDB a list of questions regarding its Report to the President, A Vision for the Digital Age: Modernization of the U.S. Security Classification … Continue reading PIDB Posts Responses to Questionnaire from the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence

Former Congressman Trey Gowdy Appointed to the PIDB

On August 24, 2020, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) appointed former Congressman Harold W. “Trey” Gowdy, III as a member of the Public Interest Declassification Board. Mr. Gowdy served four terms in Congress, representing his hometown of Spartansburg in South Carolina’s 4th congressional district. The Board members and staff welcome Mr. Gowdy and look … Continue reading Former Congressman Trey Gowdy Appointed to the PIDB

What We Heard at the Virtual Public Meeting

The Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB) held its first virtual meeting last month. The members used this occasion to publicly release their 2020 Report to the President, A Vision for the Digital Age: Modernization of the U.S. National Security Classification and Declassification System. They invited comments and discussion of their recommendations. During the meeting Steven … Continue reading What We Heard at the Virtual Public Meeting

House Speaker Appoints John Tierney to New Three-year PIDB Term

On July 1, 2020, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appointed John F. Tierney to a new three-year term on the Public Interest Declassification Board (Board). He previously was appointed by Minority Leader of the House of representatives, Nancy Pelosi on July 11, 2017, for a three-year term that was extended to June 29, 2021, in the … Continue reading House Speaker Appoints John Tierney to New Three-year PIDB Term