The Public Interest Declassification Board will host an open meeting on Thursday, November 21, 2013 to discuss its recommendations to the President on Transforming the Security Classification System. The meeting will focus more specifically on declassification prioritization. Press and media are welcome to attend. When: November 21, 2013 from 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Doors … Continue reading NEW ANNOUNCEMENT: The Public Interest Declassification Board Announces its November 21, 2013 Public Meeting
Author: US National Archives
Save-the-Date: Public Meeting of the Public Interest Declassification Board
The Public Interest Declassification Board will hold a public meeting the morning of Thursday, November 21, 2013. We will include more details about the agenda, location and time of the meeting, as well as information about how to register to attend in a future blog post. Please visit the PIDB's website, http://www.archives.gov/declassification/pidb/, and continue to follow … Continue reading Save-the-Date: Public Meeting of the Public Interest Declassification Board
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell Appoints Kenneth L. Wainstein to the PIDB
Yesterday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell appointed Kenneth L. Wainstein to serve a three-year term as a member of the Public Interest Declassification Board. You can find a link to the Congressional Record announcing the appointment here. The members of the PIDB look forward to working with Mr. Wainstein as they continue their efforts to … Continue reading Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell Appoints Kenneth L. Wainstein to the PIDB
Supporting Records and Information Management: Invitation to Industry at the National Archives
The National Archives and Records Administration will host a “Grand Challenge to Industry” in an effort to support all Government agencies as they meet the requirements of the Managing Government Records Directive, particularly directive Goal A3.1. The goal of the industry day is for agency officials and industry leaders to collaborate in laying the “groundwork … Continue reading Supporting Records and Information Management: Invitation to Industry at the National Archives
PIDB Recommendations Included in Bi-Partisan Legislation Designed to Transform Classification
Today, Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Jim Risch (R-ID) introduced new legislation, the "Preserving American Access to Information Act," aimed at reforming the security classification system. The bipartisan bill focuses on improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the system while increasing transparency for users of the system and the public. In introducing the bill, Senator … Continue reading PIDB Recommendations Included in Bi-Partisan Legislation Designed to Transform Classification
PIDB Congratulates NATO for Declassifying Cold War historical retrospectives of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE)
The Public Interest Declassification Board congratulates the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and its member nations for its work in declassifying the Cold War historical retrospectives of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) and posting them on its website. The histories detail the origins of SHAPE and document its activities and decisions as a … Continue reading PIDB Congratulates NATO for Declassifying Cold War historical retrospectives of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE)
Support for the PIDB’s Recommendations Continues to Grow
The Public Interest Declassification Board received recognition at a recent academic conference titled The Legal and Civil Policy Implications of “Leaks” at the American University Washington College of Law. A panel focusing on the legislative response to “leaks” discussed what impact over-classification and the current state of the security classification system have on the prevalence … Continue reading Support for the PIDB’s Recommendations Continues to Grow
PIDB Chair to Discuss Transforming the Security Classification System at Secrecy Event Hosted by the Brennan Center for Justice
Please join the chair of the PIDB, Ambassador Nancy Soderberg, for a discussion about Secrecy and Security: The Future of Classification Reform. Ambassador Soderberg will discuss the PIDB report and the Board’s future work at a forum hosted by the Brennan Center for Justice on Thursday, March 14, 2013 from 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. … Continue reading PIDB Chair to Discuss Transforming the Security Classification System at Secrecy Event Hosted by the Brennan Center for Justice
Comments from Trudy Huskamp Peterson, Former Acting Archivist of the United States
I read the PIDB papers as well as the submissions from the seven commentators. Rather than comment through a blog on each of the proposals, I decided to summarize my reactions and raise a few additional issues. I am numbering the paragraphs to make it easier to see the separate topics. 1. In general, I … Continue reading Comments from Trudy Huskamp Peterson, Former Acting Archivist of the United States
Steven Aftergood, Federation of American Scientists: “Set a Mandatory Performance Goal to Catalyze Transformation”
In order to induce a transformation of the national security classification system, the President should set a performance goal that will advance the desired transformation, and then mandate its achievement by executive branch agencies. Instead of trying to specify each and every one of the policy and procedural changes needed for an effective transformation, this … Continue reading Steven Aftergood, Federation of American Scientists: “Set a Mandatory Performance Goal to Catalyze Transformation”