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
PIDB Posts Agenda for Executive Session Held on May 17, 2023
On May 17, 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, Laura DeBonis, Trey Gowdy, Michael Lawrence, Benjamin Powell and John Tierney. PIDB members received a briefing on a … Continue reading PIDB Posts Agenda for Executive Session Held on May 17, 2023
ABA/NPEC Panel Discussion on Over-Classification Includes Senators and PIDB Member
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
PIDB Posts Agenda for Executive Session Held on April 19, 2023
On April 19, 2023, the Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB) met in executive session by video teleconference. PIDB Executive Secretary Mark Bradley opened the virtual meeting, which was led by PIDB Acting Chair Alissa Starzak, and attended by PIDB members Ezra Cohen, Carter Burwell, Paul-Noel Chretien, Benjamin Powell, and Michael Lawrence. For the ISOO Operations, … Continue reading PIDB Posts Agenda for Executive Session Held on April 19, 2023
NPEC Paper Offers Ideas to Reduce Over-classification; Touts Greater Role for the PIDB
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
PIDB Submits 2022 Annual Report to Congress
On March 30, 2023, Alissa Starzak, the Acting Chair of the Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB) submitted PIDB’s Annual Report to Congress for 2022. The report reviewed PIDB’s 2022 appointments under section 703 (c) of the Public Interest Declassification Act of 2000, as amended (P.L. 106-567); reports, including a congressionally mandated report on the Declassification … Continue reading PIDB Submits 2022 Annual Report to Congress
Former PIDB Executive Secretary Calls for Legislation to Modernize Government Classification
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
PIDB Posts Agenda for Executive Session Teleconference Held on March 15, 2023
On March 15, 2023, the Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB) met in executive session by video teleconference. PIDB Executive Secretary Mark Bradley opened the virtual meeting, which was led by PIDB Acting Chair Alissa Starzak, and attended by PIDB members Ezra Cohen, Carter Burwell, Alissa Starzak, John Tierney, Paul Noel Chretien, Benjamin Powell, Michael Lawrence, … Continue reading PIDB Posts Agenda for Executive Session Teleconference Held on March 15, 2023
Panels Discussed Wide Range of Issues at “America’s Secrets” Conference Co-Sponsored by the PIDB at The LBJ Library, in Austin, Texas
On January 27, 2023, the PIDB held a conference on “America’s Secrets: Classified Information and Our Democracy” at the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library and Museum (The LBJ Library), in Austin, Texas. The conference was co-sponsored by the Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB), along with The Clements Center for National Security, Strauss Center for International … Continue reading Panels Discussed Wide Range of Issues at “America’s Secrets” Conference Co-Sponsored by the PIDB at The LBJ Library, in Austin, Texas