President Biden Appoints Mary DeRosa as Chair of the Public Interest Declassification Board

On December 6, 2023, President Joseph R. Biden appointed Mary DeRosa to a two-year term as Chair of the Public Interest Declassification Board. Ms. DeRosa is a Professor from Practice at the Georgetown University Law Center. The PIDB members and staff look forward to working with her on matters pertaining to reforming and modernizing the … Continue reading President Biden Appoints Mary DeRosa as Chair of the Public Interest Declassification Board

PIDB virtual executive sessions held in September and November

The PIDB held virtual executive sessions in September and November. These meetings featured guests to discuss modernizing declassification.  On September 20, Liza Goitien, Senior Director, Brennan Center for Justice’s Liberty & National Security Program, discussed classification and declassification issues, potential reforms, and technological applications. PIDB Acting Chair Alissa Starzak led the meeting, which was attended … Continue reading PIDB virtual executive sessions held in September and November

Remembering Former PIDB Member Martin C. Faga

Martin C. FagaJune 11, 1941 – October 19, 2023Former PIDB member, Martin Faga, died on October 19, 2023. Marty served for three terms and as acting chair. He was appointed by President George W. Bush as an inaugural member of the PIDB and was present at the Board’s first meeting on Saturday, February 25, 2006. … Continue reading Remembering Former PIDB Member Martin C. Faga

PIDB Posts Agenda for Executive Session Held on July 19, 2023

On July 19, 2023, the Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB) met in executive session by video teleconference. PIDB Acting Chair Alissa Starzak led the meeting, which was attended by PIDB members Carter Burwell, Paul-Noel Chretien, Ezra Cohen, Trey Gowdy, Michael Lawrence, and Benjamin Powell. In the meeting, the PIDB members discussed declassification issues with John … Continue reading PIDB Posts Agenda for Executive Session Held on July 19, 2023

PIDB Posts Agenda for Executive Session Held on June 22, 2023, at the National Archives

On June 22, 2023, the Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB) met in person for an executive session at the National Archives in Washington, DC. PIDB Acting Chair Alissa Starzak led the meeting, which was attended by PIDB members Carter Burwell, Paul-Noel Chretien, Ezra Cohen, Benjamin Powell and Michael Lawrence. In the executive session, PIDB members … Continue reading PIDB Posts Agenda for Executive Session Held on June 22, 2023, at the National Archives

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

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

PIDB Posts Agenda for Executive Session Held on May 30, 2023

On May 30, 2023, the Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB) met in executive session by video teleconference. PIDB Acting Chair Alissa Starzak led the meeting, which was attended by PIDB members Carter Burwell, Paul-Noel Chretien, Ezra Cohen, Benjamin Powell and John Tierney. The PIDB members planned for the next PIDB executive session. The agenda of … Continue reading PIDB Posts Agenda for Executive Session Held on May 30, 2023