The Central Intelligence Agency conducted a review of its “operational files” last year, as it is required to do every ten years under the CIA Information Act of 1984, to see if any such files could have their “operational” designation rescinded, making them subject to Freedom of Information Act requests. But instead of removing any […]
The Federal Bureau of Investigation wants to review the files of the late muckraking journalist Jack Anderson and confiscate any documents it believes are classified before they are opened to the public. This amazing story was first reported yesterday by the Chronicle of Higher Education (see Update below). There has long been an unwritten agreement […]
The Department of Defense is seeking a broad new exemption from the Freedom of Information Act for unclassified information relating to weapons of mass destruction. According to the proposed legislation, “Examples of such information could include … formulas and design descriptions of lethal and incapacitating materials; maps, designs, security/emergency response plans, and vulnerability assessments for […]
The challenges posed by the use of “sensitive but unclassified” control markings were examined in a comprehensive new report (pdf) from the Government Accountability Office. “The agencies that GAO reviewed are using 56 different sensitive but unclassified designations (16 of which belong to one agency) to protect information that they deem critical to their missions […]
Attorneys for two former officials of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee accused of mishandling classified information vigorously rebutted the latest prosecution arguments against their clients in an April 6 pleading (pdf). “In the history of the Espionage Act, the government has never embarked on a prosecution like this one — of private citizens outside […]
The U.S. Air Force has produced a new doctrinal document (pdf) that articulates its role in “homeland operations.” “This document describes how our Air Force organizes and employs air and space power in operations in the homeland.” “It focuses on how we support civilian agencies through the appropriate combatant commander in a variety of operations, […]
The best way to ensure the perpetuation of democratic institutions in turbulent times, said Abraham Lincoln in an 1838 speech, is to cultivate a sense of reverence for the law. “Let reverence for the laws be breathed by every American mother to the lisping babe that prattles on her lap — let it be taught […]
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) today released a second newly declassified Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the withdrawal of government records from its public collections. National Archivist Allen Weinstein said that he discovered the existence of the second MOU (pdf), which was signed by the Central Intelligence Agency and NARA in October 2001, […]
The Department of Energy Office of Intelligence has reverted to a policy of budget secrecy that it rejected more than a decade ago. For as long as anyone can remember, the small DOE intelligence unit always had an unclassified budget (around $40 million in recent years). “The size of the DOE intelligence budget is not […]
Our ace FAS researcher, Lucas Royland, has developed a simple calculator that allows prediction of when Iran will first have enough highly enriched uranium to build a simple gun-assembled nuclear bomb. We must emphasize that the calculator gives the best case (from the Iranian point of view, the worst case from the rest of the […]
Existing laws prohibiting unauthorized disclosures of classified information have not been effective, the House Intelligence Committee stated in a new report on the 2007 intelligence authorization act published today. “Additional and more creative steps to deter unauthorized disclosures are warranted,” the report said. Towards that end, the Committee asked the Director of National Intelligence to […]
Director of Central Intelligence Agency Porter J. Goss invoked the state secrets privilege last month to block litigation filed against the CIA and another U.S. Government agency. The likely effect is to terminate the case, for reasons that DCIA Goss said cannot be explained on the public record. “After deliberation and personal consideration, I have […]