FAS

Appeals Court Hears Arguments on President’s Daily Briefs

07.11.07 | 1 min read | Text by Steven Aftergood

A federal appeals court yesterday heard oral arguments in a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit seeking disclosure of two Vietnam-era editions of the President’s Daily Brief.

The Central Intelligence Agency refused to disclose the two PDBs to University of California professor Larry Berman, who filed the lawsuit in cooperation with the lawfirm Davis Wright Tremaine and the National Security Archive.

The July 10 hearing was reported in “Federal Court Skeptical of CIA Bid for Secrecy” by Josh Gerstein, New York Sun, July 11.

An audio recording of the fairly technical court session can be downloaded from this site. Click on “Audio Files” on the left side of the page and then enter case number 05-16820.

Additional background on the case is available from the National Security Archive.

publications
See all publications
Environment
day one project
Policy Memo
Using Pull Finance for Market-driven Infrastructure and Asset Resilience

The increasing frequency of extreme weather events, which caused over $200 billion in global economic losses in 2023, is disrupting global supply chains and exacerbating migration pressures, particularly for the U.S. Investing in climate resilience abroad offers a significant opportunity for U.S. businesses in technology, engineering, and infrastructure, while also supporting job creation at home.

01.09.25 | 10 min read
read more
Education & Workforce
Blog
Alaska Statewide Mentor Project is Reaching Rural Teachers

Early-career and out-of-state teachers tend to be most heavily concentrated in Alaska’s rural schools, where they face a steep curve in adjusting to a new way of life while learning the ropes of teaching.

01.08.25 | 3 min read
read more
Emerging Technology
day one project
Policy Memo
A National Guidance Platform for AI Acquisition

By leveraging its substantial purchasing power responsibly, the government can encourage high-quality, inclusive AI solutions that address diverse citizen needs while setting a strong precedent for innovation and accountability.

01.08.25 | 10 min read
read more
Environment
day one project
Policy Memo
Enhancing Local Capacity for Disaster Resilience

A new initiative targeting service investment to build resilience in low-capacity communities would help build capacity at the local level, train a new generation of service-oriented professionals, and ensure that federal funding gets to the communities that need it most.

01.07.25 | 8 min read
read more