Sunshine Week is an annual initiative designed to raise awareness of the importance of citizen access to Government information. This commemoration coincides with National Freedom of Information Day and James Madison’s birthday (March 16). We reaffirm the principle that an Open Government is essential in our democracy. An informed citizenry, actively participating in debating and … Continue reading The Public Interest Declassification Board commemorates James Madison’s birthday and Sunshine Week
Category: Declassification
Declassification in Full of the 1954 Oppenheimer Hearing
The PIDB congratulates the Department of Energy’s Office of Classification Management for declassifying the complete 1954 Oppenheimer Hearing Transcript. President Obama’s Second Open Government National Action Plan tasked Government agencies, including the Department of Energy, to systematically review and declassify historical data on nuclear activities. The PIDB is pleased to see the Department of Energy … Continue reading Declassification in Full of the 1954 Oppenheimer Hearing
Declassification of the Manhattan District History at the Department of Energy
On August 21, 2014, the Department of Energy (DOE) posted to its OpenNet system the multi-volume history of the Manhattan Project, titled The Manhattan District History. Commissioned in 1944 by General Leslie Groves, head of the Manhattan Engineer District, the thirty-six volume history was "intended to describe, in simple terms, easily understood by the average … Continue reading Declassification of the Manhattan District History at the Department of Energy
“More Declassification Reform Needed,” says Boston Globe
The Boston Globe published an article yesterday titled, “U.S. lags in airing its old secrets.” It discusses the challenges facing the National Declassification Center (NDC) and the effect current declassification policies and practices have on providing timely access to historical records at the National Archives and Records Administration. In the article, journalist Bryan Bender quotes … Continue reading “More Declassification Reform Needed,” says Boston Globe
National Declassification Center Completes Quality Assurance of Backlog Final
At the recent conference on the Berlin Wall, the Director of the National Declassification Center (NDC) announced that the NDC completed the quality assurance review of the nearly 352 million pages that constitute the backlog of classified Federal records in the custody of the National Archives. The backlog was a result of previous reviews of … Continue reading National Declassification Center Completes Quality Assurance of Backlog Final
PIDB Initiatives Included in the President’s Second Open Government National Action Plan
On Friday, the President issued the Second Open Government National Action Plan (NAP) as part of the Open Government Partnership, a cornerstone of his administration. I am very happy to report that the NAP contains the specific initiative, “Transform the Security Classification System.” Under this initiative, the President pledges to implement reforms that will keep … Continue reading PIDB Initiatives Included in the President’s Second Open Government National Action Plan
DNI General Clapper Declassifies Additional IC Documents About Collection Under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
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
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)