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Secrecy and Security News

Newer News: January 2020

December 2019

• Judge demands answers from FBI on faulty surveillance applications by Josh Gerstein, Politico, December 17. "The presiding judge of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court signaled grave concern about the Justice Department inspector general's findings."
• Court Finds Edward Snowden in Breach of Prepublication Review Requirements, December 17. "Because both the CIA and NSA Secrecy Agreements prohibit unauthorized publication of certain information, and [Snowden's book] Permanent Record discusses those types of information, the Government is entitled to summary judgment as to liability on Count 1."
• DoD/DOE deny declassification of the size of the US nuclear stockpile in FY2019, December 13. "After careful consideration, it was determined that the information requested cannot be declassified at this time."
• A report on FBI surveillance of a former Trump campaign adviser shows dysfunction, not political bias. That's still a problem. by Kristine Phillips, USA Today, December 13. "It would be surprising if the Carter Page case were the only one that had serious problems."
• Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Retaining Classified National Defense Information Regarding U.S. Military Programs, DoJ news release, December 13. "Ahmedelhadi Yassin Serageldin, 66, an Egyptian-born nationalized U.S. citizen, admitted to removing classified national defense information from his workplace at a defense contractor without authorization and keeping it unsecured within his home."
• FY2020 NDAA requires report on reducing DoD declassification backlog, conference report on S. 1790, December 9. The Secretary of Defense shall report on progress "toward reducing the backlog in legally required historical declassification obligations."
• FY2020 NDAA requires report on nuclear forces of the US and near-peer countries, conference report on S. 1790, December 9. The Secretary of Defense shall report on "current and planned nuclear systems of the United States, Russia, and China, including projections through 2040."
• FY2020 NDAA requires DoD to support the JASON scientific advisory group, conference report on S. 1790, December 9. "The conferees expect the arrangement or contract to be ... similar to previous contracts for JASON research studies."
• Barr's Personal, Ad Hoc Declassification Authority and the Role of Congress by J. William Leonard, JustSecurity, December 9. "This unprecedented act is thus highly suspect and demands that Congress respond by asserting its rightful authority regarding classification issues--an authority greater than is often recognized."
• The Pentagon's War on Transparency by Jason Paladino, Project on Government Oversight, December 5. "It'll take more than press briefings to reverse the Department of Defense's troubling retreat into secrecy."

Older News: November 2019

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Maintained by Steven Aftergood
Updated January 7, 2020