On September 27, 2021, the Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB) submitted a letter to President Biden unanimously encouraging the maximum public release of records under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act (JFK Act). Passed in 1992, the JFK Act required all federal agencies and offices to identify, organize, and transfer copies of all … Continue reading PIDB Submits Letter to President Biden Supporting Transparency in Public Release of JFK Assassination Records
FY 2022 National Defense Authorization Act Recognizes the Need for a New Classification Policy for Space Information to Reduce Over-Classification
The Armed Services Committee in the House of Representatives included a provision in the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that directs the Chief of Space Operations for the U.S. Space Force to oversee a classification review of space information with the intent of either declassifying or reducing the classification levels of space … Continue reading FY 2022 National Defense Authorization Act Recognizes the Need for a New Classification Policy for Space Information to Reduce Over-Classification
PIDB Posts Agenda from Executive Session Teleconference Held on August 25
The Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB) met in executive session by video teleconference on Wednesday, August 25, 2021. PIDB Chair Ezra Cohen led the virtual meeting, which was attended by members Paul Noel Chretien, Trey Gowdy, Michael Lawrence, Ben Powell, Alissa Starzak, and John Tierney. The PIDB members discussed the status and procedures for handling … Continue reading PIDB Posts Agenda from Executive Session Teleconference Held on August 25
PIDB Comments on the National Archives Draft Strategic Plan
The Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB) was established to promote “the fullest possible access to a thorough, accurate, and reliable documentary record of significant ... national security decisions and … activities.” This mandate reflects an underlying premise of representative democracy: citizens’ access to information about Government is essential to their informed decisions and their ability … Continue reading PIDB Comments on the National Archives Draft Strategic Plan
PIDB Recommends the Prioritized Declassification of 9/11 Records
The Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB) promotes the fullest possible public access to a thorough, accurate, and reliable documentary record of significant U.S. national security decisions and activities. The PIDB reviews and makes recommendations to the President for the identification, collection, and review for declassification of information of extraordinary public interest. In anticipation of the … Continue reading PIDB Recommends the Prioritized Declassification of 9/11 Records
PIDB Posts Agenda from Executive Session Teleconference Held on July 28
The Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB) met in executive session by video teleconference on Thursday, June 24, 2021. PIDB Chair Ezra Cohen led the virtual meeting, which was attended by members Paul Noel Chretien, Trey Gowdy, Michael Lawrence, Ben Powell, Alissa Starzak, and John Tierney. The PIDB members drafted procedures for handling requests submitted by … Continue reading PIDB Posts Agenda from Executive Session Teleconference Held on July 28
PIDB Posts Agenda from Executive Session Teleconference Held on June 24, 2021
The Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB) met in executive session by video teleconference on Thursday, June 24, 2021. PIDB Chair Ezra Cohen led the virtual meeting, which was attended by members Paul Noel Chretien, Trey Gowdy, Michael Lawrence, Ben Powell, Alissa Starzak, and John Tierney. Topics discussed by the PIDB members in session included recommendations … Continue reading PIDB Posts Agenda from Executive Session Teleconference Held on June 24, 2021
House Judiciary Committee Calls for the Declassification of 9/11 Records
Last week, FBI Director Christopher Wray appeared before the House Judiciary Committee at the "Oversight of the Federal Bureau of Investigation" public hearing. The full Judiciary Committee hearing can be found at: https://judiciary.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=4581 During this hearing, Judiciary Committee members requested that Director Wray focus resources toward the declassification of 9/11 records. Congressman Ted Deutch, asked Director Wray to commit to a full and … Continue reading House Judiciary Committee Calls for the Declassification of 9/11 Records
PIDB Members Thank You for your Comments and Questions to the Virtual Public Meeting of May 18
Members of the Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB) are grateful for the audience of over 4,000 viewers who attended the live virtual public meeting on May 18. The video of the event will remain publicly available in its entirety on the NARA YouTube Channel, where it has already reached over 48,000 viewers. The PIDB received … Continue reading PIDB Members Thank You for your Comments and Questions to the Virtual Public Meeting of May 18
PIDB responds to Questions about the JFK Assassination Records
The virtual public meeting hosted on May 18 by the Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB) received the following questions regarding delays in public access to certain records that are part of the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). We have listed those questions and comments below, … Continue reading PIDB responds to Questions about the JFK Assassination Records