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
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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
Open Government Groups Send Letter to President Biden
On Monday, February 22, 2021, a coalition of open-government organizations led by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, submitted a letter to President Biden requesting "Swift Presidential Leadership to Make Transparency a Top Priority for the Biden Administration." The organizations included several requests in their letter that … Continue reading Open Government Groups Send Letter to President Biden
PIDB Posts Agenda from Executive Session Teleconference
On Thursday, February 18, 2021, the Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB) held an executive session by video teleconference. PIDB Chair Ezra Cohen led the virtual meeting, which was attended by members John-Paul Chretien, Trey Gowdy, Michael Lawrence, Ben Powell, Alissa Starzak, and John Tierney. Their discussion focused on strategic planning for their activities in 2021. … Continue reading PIDB Posts Agenda from Executive Session Teleconference
Public Interest Groups Publish Report on Government Transparency – Highlight Technology – Part Two
Open the Government, a nonpartisan coalition composed of civil society and government transparency focused organizations published its report, Accountability 2021 in December. The report promotes several long- and short-term recommendations that also support previous recommendations by the Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB). The PIDB’s most recent report to the President, A Vision for the Digital … Continue reading Public Interest Groups Publish Report on Government Transparency – Highlight Technology – Part Two
Air Force and EPA Officials Discuss Need for Data Standards and the Benefits of Automating Classification
Speaking at an industry-sponsored WebEx on December 15, 2020, representatives of the United States Air Force (Air Force) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) discussed the value and importance of data management in expanding the application of data for use within their organizations. They emphasized the importance of establishing a common governance framework and metadata … Continue reading Air Force and EPA Officials Discuss Need for Data Standards and the Benefits of Automating Classification
Public Interest Groups Publish Report on Government Transparency – Highlight Work and Recommendations of the Public Interest Declassification Board – Part One
Open the Government, a nonpartisan coalition composed of civil society and government transparency focused organizations published its report, Accountability 2021 in December. The report highlighted several recommendations from the Public Interest Declassification Board’s (PIDB) most recent report to the President, A Vision for the Digital Age: Modernizing the U.S. National Security Classification and Declassification System. … Continue reading Public Interest Groups Publish Report on Government Transparency – Highlight Work and Recommendations of the Public Interest Declassification Board – Part One
President Trump Appoints Ezra Cohen as Chair and Member of the Public Interest Declassification Board
On January 11, 2021, President Donald Trump appointed Ezra Cohen to a three-year term as a member of the Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB), including a two-year term as its Chair. The PIDB members and staff welcome Mr. Cohen and look forward to working with him in continuing efforts to modernize the classification and declassification … Continue reading President Trump Appoints Ezra Cohen as Chair and Member of the Public Interest Declassification Board
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
President Donald Trump Appoints Paul-Noel Chretien and Adam Telle to the PIDB
On December 30, 2020, President Donald Trump appointed Paul-Noel Chretien and Adam Telle to three-year terms as members of the Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB). The PIDB members and staff welcome Mr. Chretien and Mr. Telle and look forward to working with them in continuing efforts to modernize the classification and declassification system to meet … Continue reading President Donald Trump Appoints Paul-Noel Chretien and Adam Telle to the PIDB