![]() ![]() The 9/11 Commission concluded that excessive classification inhibited the ability of defense agencies to share critical files, contributing to the terrorists' success in killing nearly 3,000 Americans. ![]() William Leonard, former director of the Information Security Oversight Office, which oversees the classification system, testified in 2016 before Congress that overclassification was rampant throughout federal government. Overclassification killsĮxperts and members of Congress acknowledge that 90% of classified records do not need to be classified. Though classification is intended to protect the national security of the nation - shielding such information as weapons data, military plans and codes - often records with no direct connection to national security are hidden, including already published newspaper articles, sometimes to prevent agency embarrassment or accountability. These records can include just about anything a government employee deems confidential, secret, top secret, sensitive or restricted. The classified federal records are made secret according to categories defined by the president through executive orders, not law. faces in maintaining transparent, accountable government. Also, as a member of the Federal Freedom of Information Act Advisory Committee, I see firsthand the struggles the U.S. I have seen the secrecy creep - more classification and more withholding of information by the government - growing for decades, as a scholar who studies freedom of information, as recent president of the National Freedom of Information Coalition and as incoming director of the Brechner Freedom of Information Project at the University of Florida. Those in the intelligence field, along with at least eight special commissions through the decades, acknowledge the security risk of nearly 2,000 workers processing tens of millions of classified records each year, which could be viewed and potentially leaked or misplaced by more than 4.2 million government employees and contractors who have access to them. ![]() has an overclassification problem, which, experts say, ironically threatens the nation's security. That's the estimated number of records annually classified as confidential, secret or top secret by the U.S. faces far more threats to its national security than from spy balloons or classified documents discovered in former and current presidents' homes. About 50 million more threats every year. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |