Nuclear Weapons

NSA Declassification Plan

06.12.06 | 1 min read | Text by Steven Aftergood

“The National Security Agency is committed to declassifying national security information as instructed in Executive Order 12958, as amended,” the NSA declared in a 2005 declassification plan (pdf).

“The Agency will use all available resources to successfully accomplish the provisions of the E.O. within the required time.”

See “NSA Declassification Plan for Executive Order 12958, as Amended,” January 13, 2005 (obtained by Michael Ravnitzky).

“The fact that the U.S. Army and Navy mounted a [World War II] effort called Project BOURBON against certain Soviet cryptosystems can be released,” according to a newly disclosed 2001 NSA notice on declassification policy.

“Most details beyond this statement, as well as the cooperation with the British in this effort, remain classified.”

See selected NSA declassification guidance (pdf), released June 2006.

Other agency declassification plans, including newly posted plans of the Army and Navy, may be found here.

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