On August 24, 2020, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) appointed former Congressman Harold W. “Trey” Gowdy, III as a member of the Public Interest Declassification Board. Mr. Gowdy served four terms in Congress, representing his hometown of Spartansburg in South Carolina’s 4th congressional district. The Board members and staff welcome Mr. Gowdy and look … Continue reading Former Congressman Trey Gowdy Appointed to the PIDB
Confirmation Testimony of New U.S. Space Force Commander Reiterates Concerns about Over-classification in Space, Calls for Review
On his way to becoming the new Commander of the U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM), Lt. Gen. James Dickinson discussed the problem of over-classification in space operations at his confirmation hearing on July 28, 2020, before the Senate Armed Services Committee. In his testimony, Lt. Gen. Dickinson called for “a review of classification for collection data … Continue reading Confirmation Testimony of New U.S. Space Force Commander Reiterates Concerns about Over-classification in Space, Calls for Review
ODNI, NGA Officials Tout Modernization During the Current Pandemic
At an industry-sponsored webinar on Wednesday, August 12, officials from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) and the National Geospatial Agency (NGA) discussed how during the current COVID-19 pandemic their agencies: “innovate and deploy new technologies and methodologies to drive digital transformation for efficiency and cost savings.” La’Naia Jones, acting Chief Information … Continue reading ODNI, NGA Officials Tout Modernization During the Current Pandemic
What We Heard at the Virtual Public Meeting
The Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB) held its first virtual meeting last month. The members used this occasion to publicly release their 2020 Report to the President, A Vision for the Digital Age: Modernization of the U.S. National Security Classification and Declassification System. They invited comments and discussion of their recommendations. During the meeting Steven … Continue reading What We Heard at the Virtual Public Meeting
PIDB Posts Transcript of Virtual Public Meeting, Responds to Public Questions
The agenda and transcript of the Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB) Virtual Public Meeting held on June 5, 2020, is now available online here: PIDB Meetings – 2020. The teleconference began an important discussion about the PIDB’s 2020 Report to the President, A Vision for the Digital Age: Modernization of the U.S. National Security Classification … Continue reading PIDB Posts Transcript of Virtual Public Meeting, Responds to Public Questions
House Speaker Appoints John Tierney to New Three-year PIDB Term
On July 1, 2020, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appointed John F. Tierney to a new three-year term on the Public Interest Declassification Board (Board). He previously was appointed by Minority Leader of the House of representatives, Nancy Pelosi on July 11, 2017, for a three-year term that was extended to June 29, 2021, in the … Continue reading House Speaker Appoints John Tierney to New Three-year PIDB Term
Board Members Invite PIDB Virtual Meeting Participants to Complete Survey Through July 5, 2020
The Public Interest Declassification Board is grateful for everyone who participated on Friday, June 5, 2020, in the Virtual Public Meeting. Among other topics, the teleconference began important discussion about the Board’s 2020 Report to the President, A Vision for the Digital Age: Modernization of the U.S. National Security Classification and Declassification System. Although in-person … Continue reading Board Members Invite PIDB Virtual Meeting Participants to Complete Survey Through July 5, 2020
Thank You!
On behalf of the other PIDB members, I want to thank you, the public, for participating in our virtual public meeting on Friday, June 5, 2020 via teleconference. Members would have preferred to host an in-person meeting that was more amenable for a conversation. However, we felt this was the best way to allow public … Continue reading Thank You!
The PIDB’s Virtual Public Meeting is tomorrow
It is not too late to register for this virtual meeting tomorrow from 11:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.! Register here by providing your name and email contact information. After registering, you will receive instructions on how to call in to the PIDB’s virtual public meeting. The Members of the PIDB will provide an overview of the … Continue reading The PIDB’s Virtual Public Meeting is tomorrow
A Summary of the Public Interest Declassification Board’s Recommendations to the President on how to Modernize the Classification and Declassification System
The Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB) published its report to the President, A Vision for the Digital Age: Modernization of the U.S. National Security Classification and Declassification System yesterday. This report provides recommendations that can serve as a blueprint for modernizing the classification and declassification system. These recommendations focus on the imperative to adopt new … Continue reading A Summary of the Public Interest Declassification Board’s Recommendations to the President on how to Modernize the Classification and Declassification System