2014 Press Releases

Public Interest Declassification Board Hosts Open Meeting at the National Archives June 19
Press Release · Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Washington, DC

More Information

WHAT:

The Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB) will host a public meeting to discuss the recommendations included in its Report to the President on Transforming the Security Classification System, and its recommendation to re-examine the classification status of no-longer sensitive historical Formerly Restricted Data (FRD) information. The meeting will focus on new processes to support the President’s commitment to implement a systematic review process for the declassification of this information. In his Second Open Government National Action Plan, the President directed the Classification Review Committee to work with Executive branch agencies to design a review process that allows the public to help identify priorities. The Archivist of the United States, David S. Ferriero will offer opening remarks, and senior officials from Executive branch agencies will discuss their agencies efforts. Declassification of this no-longer sensitive information will allow the public to better understand the role of nuclear weapons in U.S. Cold War policies.

WHO:

Speakers include:

  • David S. Ferriero, Archivist of the United States
  • Ambassador Nancy Soderberg, PIDB Chair
  • Senior officials from the Executive Branch
  • Current PIDB Members

WHEN:

Thursday, June 19, 2014, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

WHERE:

National Archives and Records Administration
Room 105 – Archivist’s Reception Room
700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20408

This meeting is open to the public. However, due to space limitations and access procedures, we require individuals planning to attend the meeting to register on Eventbrite.

Attendees must enter through the Pennsylvania Avenue entrance. Please note we require one form of Government-issued photo identification (e.g. driver’s license) to gain admittance. For questions about accessibility or to request accommodations please contact the John Powers, PIDB staff, at 202-357-5407 or john.powers@nara.gov.

Background

The Public Interest Declassification Board is an advisory committee established by Congress in order to promote the fullest possible public access to a thorough, accurate, and reliable documentary record of significant U.S. national security decisions and activities. The Board completed its Report to the President on Transforming the National Security Classification System in 2012 in response to the President's request for assistance in identifying potential solutions for classification and declassification challenges in the digital age and producing a vision for a new system. The Board has nine members, five appointed by the President and four by the Congressional leadership. In addition to Ambassador Soderberg, current Presidential appointees include Martin Faga and William Leary. The Minority Leader of the House appointed David Skaggs and the Speaker of the House appointed William O. Studeman. The Majority Leader of the Senate appointed Sanford Ungar and the Minority Leader of the Senate appointed Kenneth L. Wainstein. For more information see: www.archives.gov/declassification/pidb.

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For press information, contact John Powers, PIDB Staff, at (202) 357-5407 or via email at john.powers@nara.gov

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