Author: US National Archives

The annual celebration of Sunshine Week reminds us of the need for greater transparency in government and greater public access to government information. As part of the initiative to promote freedom of information, we, the members of the Public Interest Declassification Board, renew our call on the need to transform our nation's security classification system. … Continue reading Commemorating Sunshine Week: More Sunshine Earlier

The PIDB still wants your suggested topics that you feel agencies should prioritize for declassification.  Beginning on January 27, 2014, the PIDB will begin compiling the responses and comments it received on this blog.  It will then use those ideas and report back to the public its conclusions and suggested next steps to assist the … Continue reading Final Call for Topics

We have already received many comments from our followers about what topics you would like to see declassified.  Today, we present you with a new  list of topics.  These topics all relate to records found at the Presidential Libraries. View the List Here:  Topics Related to the Presidential Libraries Like the other categories on our … Continue reading NEW PRIORITIZATION: Topics Related to the Presidential Libraries

We continue to receive comments and feedback on the topics posted on our blog.  We have a new list of general topics of interest to share with our followers.  This list contains topics of interest that do not fall squarely into one of the other categories we have featured on the blog. You can view … Continue reading NEW: GENERAL TOPICS FOR PRIORITIZATION

We thank you for your continued interest in prioritization and for the many comments from our followers we have received about what topics you would like to see declassified.  Today, we present you with a new list of topics that involve information classified as Formerly Restricted Data (FRD) information. View the List Here: Topics Re: … Continue reading PRIORITIZATION UPDATE: New Topics Re: Formerly Restricted Data (FRD) Information

We have already received many comments from our followers about what topics you would like to see declassified.  Today, we present you with anew  list of topics OLDER than 25 years. View the List Here:  Older Than 25 Years Like our first category of topics 25 years old and younger, this list of older topics … Continue reading NEW PRIORITIZATION CATEGORY: Topics Older Than 25 Years

Join the Declassification Prioritization Conversation.  The PIDB wants to know what topics you would like to see declassified.  Today, we present you with a list of topics 25 years old and YOUNGER. View the List Here:  Topics 25 Years Old and YOUNGER This list captures topics we heard from Agency declassifiers, experts from the Presidential … Continue reading Prioritization: Topics 25 Years Old and YOUNGER

The Public Interest Declassification Board continues to advocate for transforming the security classification system.  We now ask YOU to join the discussion about what the government should prioritize for declassification.  Make sure the PIDB hears your voice by commenting on our blog, Transforming Classification, today through mid-January 2014. Please check back-in early this afternoon to … Continue reading Declassify or not . . .that’s our question.

The Director of National Intelligence (DNI) declassified and publicly released documents relating to intelligence collection under sections 501 and 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).  The DNI has now declassified nearly 2,000 pages of documents since June.  The declassified documents include Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court opinions and orders, reports to Congress on FISA … Continue reading DNI General Clapper Declassifies Additional IC Documents About Collection Under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act

The Public Interest Declassification Board is very pleased to announce that Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) will participate as keynote speaker at the next public meeting of the PIDB.  Senator Shaheen introduced the "Preserving American Access to Information Act" on August 1, 2013, which directly addresses many of the Board’s recommendations found in its 2012 Report … Continue reading Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) Confirmed to Speak at the November 21st Public Meeting