DHS Lists “Sensitive Security Information” Titles
In an attempt to limit unnecessary controls on unclassified information, Congress last year required the Department of Homeland Security to identify by title all DHS documents that were marked as “Sensitive Security Information” (SSI) that may not be publicly disclosed.
In response, the first DHS report to Congress (pdf) listed approximately one thousand titles that had been marked as SSI between October 1 and December 31, 2005.
A copy of that report has just been released with minor redactions in response to a Freedom of Information Act request from the Federation of American Scientists.
See “Department of Homeland Security Documents Designated in Their Entirety as Sensitive Security Information (SSI), October 1 Thru December 31, 2005” (3.5 MB PDF).
The public rarely sees the quiet, often messy work that goes into creating, passing, and implementing a major piece of legislation like the CHIPS and Science Act.
If this proposed rule were enacted it would have deleterious effects on government workers in general and federal researchers and scientists, specifically.
When we introduce “at-will” employment to government employees, we also introduce the potential for environments where people are more concerned about self-preservation than service to others.
There is no better time to re-invigorate America’s innovation edge by investing in R&D to create and capture “industries of the future,” re-shoring capital and expertise, and working closely with allies to expand our capabilities while safeguarding those technologies that are critical to our security.