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Transforming Classification

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Category: Public Engagement

Backlogs, Bottlenecks, and Delay: The PIDB’s Ongoing Pursuit of Public Access to 9/11 Records

September 26, 2025September 29, 2025 by tajiboye, posted in Public Engagement, Public Meetings

The Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB) recently announced that it will hold its next public meeting on October 29, 2025, with an agenda focused on the substantial body of records relating to the September 11th terrorist attacks that are fast approaching their 25-year mandatory declassification deadline.  For nearly two decades, the PIDB has remained steadfast … Continue reading Backlogs, Bottlenecks, and Delay: The PIDB’s Ongoing Pursuit of Public Access to 9/11 Records

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Establishing a Centralized and Automated System for Classification Review

September 4, 2025September 5, 2025 by tajiboye, posted in Public Engagement

Over the past year, the PIDB has had an ongoing opportunity to evaluate tools for automating classification and declassification at a number of federal agencies, including the Department of Defense, the State Department, and the CIA. We have also taken time to speak with experts from industry in order to understand the broader emerging landscape … Continue reading Establishing a Centralized and Automated System for Classification Review

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Columbia University Hosts Conference: The Dark State? Government Secrecy and American Democracy

May 1, 2024March 19, 2025 by karas, posted in Public Engagement

Today’s post was written by Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB) members Carter Burwell and Carmen Medina. On Friday, April 19, 2024, two members of the PIDB spoke at Columbia University at the 2nd Annual Conference in Honor of Robert Jervis. The event was titled "The Dark State? Government Secrecy and American Democracy" and was hosted at Columbia's … Continue reading Columbia University Hosts Conference: The Dark State? Government Secrecy and American Democracy

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PIDB Member and NPEC Executive Director Discuss Classification Reform and Overclassification at The World Institute of Politics; Video Available on YouTube

June 6, 2023March 20, 2025 by PIDB, posted in Public Engagement

On May 22, 2023, PIDB member Ezra Cohen joined Henry Sokolski, executive director of the Nonproliferation Policy Education Center (NPEC), to discuss ”Classification Policy Reform and the Issues of Overclassification,” at The Institute of World Politics, in Washington, DC. The discussion highlighted the NPEC occasional paper  “Over-classification: How Bad Is It, What’s the Fix?”, which … Continue reading PIDB Member and NPEC Executive Director Discuss Classification Reform and Overclassification at The World Institute of Politics; Video Available on YouTube

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ABA/NPEC Panel Discussion on Over-Classification Includes Senators and PIDB Member

May 16, 2023March 20, 2025 by PIDB, posted in Public Engagement

On May 11, 2023, the Nonproliferation Policy Education Center (NPEC) and the American Bar Association (ABA) Standing Committee on Law and National Security co-sponsored a panel discussion of the NPEC’s study on “Over-classification:  How Bad Is It, What’s the Fix?”. The panel met at the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center, and featured Senator Mark R. Warner, … Continue reading ABA/NPEC Panel Discussion on Over-Classification Includes Senators and PIDB Member

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NPEC Paper Offers Ideas to Reduce Over-classification; Touts Greater Role for the PIDB

April 10, 2023March 20, 2025 by PIDB, posted in Public Engagement

Published on March 28, 2022, by the Nonproliferation Policy Education Center (NPEC), Occasional Paper 2303, Over-classification: How Bad Is It, What’s the Fix?, highlights examples of over-classification that increasingly undermine U.S. national security; offers ideas for reforms to reduce over-classification; and advocates for appropriate funds to support the staff and operations of the Public Interest … Continue reading NPEC Paper Offers Ideas to Reduce Over-classification; Touts Greater Role for the PIDB

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Former PIDB Executive Secretary Calls for Legislation to Modernize Government Classification

March 28, 2023March 20, 2025 by Robert Fahs, posted in Public Engagement

In Congressional testimony on March 23, 2022, former executive secretary of the Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB) and director of the Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO) (2012-2016) John Fitzpatrick called for legislation that would mandate the designation of “a single, responsible official” by the president to lead reform of the classification system through the implementation … Continue reading Former PIDB Executive Secretary Calls for Legislation to Modernize Government Classification

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Reforming the Classification System: Challenges, Approaches, and Priorities

December 8, 2022March 21, 2025 by Matt Arnold, posted in Public Engagement

On December 6, 2022 the Hudson Institute hosted an event, co-sponsored by the Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB), the American Bar Association, and the Federalist Society, on “Reforming the Classification System: Challenges, Approaches, and Priorities.” The event opened with PIDB’s chair Ezra Cohen and vice chair Alissa Starzak introducing the topic and providing the board’s … Continue reading Reforming the Classification System: Challenges, Approaches, and Priorities

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“Reforming the Classification System: Challenges, Approaches, and Priorities” – ABA and Federalist Society Co-Sponsor Event including PIDB Members at Hudson Institute, December 6 from 9:00-11:00 AM

November 29, 2022March 21, 2025 by PIDB, posted in Public Engagement

On Tuesday, December 6, from 9:00-11:00 a.m., a discussion by Ezra Cohen and Alissa Starzak, chair and vice chair of the Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB), will open an in-person event on “Reforming the Classification System: Challenges, Approaches, and Priorities,” hosted by the Hudson Institute at 1201 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W. Following the opening by Mr. … Continue reading “Reforming the Classification System: Challenges, Approaches, and Priorities” – ABA and Federalist Society Co-Sponsor Event including PIDB Members at Hudson Institute, December 6 from 9:00-11:00 AM

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Senators Moran and Wyden Urge the President to Change Executive Order on Classification and Declassification

June 10, 2022March 24, 2025 by Robert Fahs, posted in Public Engagement

A letter sent to President Biden in May 2022 by Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) and Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) urged the President and the National Security Council to address “long-overdue reform demands” by revising Executive Order (E.O) 13526, Classified National Security Information. In addition to calling for modernization, the letter emphasizes the need for “meaningful investments” in … Continue reading Senators Moran and Wyden Urge the President to Change Executive Order on Classification and Declassification

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