Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB) - Recommendations and Reports

2024

• 2023 PIDB Annual Report to Congress

2023

• Letter to the President - Executive Order Reforms (October 2023) 
• FY 2022 PIDB Annual Report to Congress
• Letter to the President - JFK Assassination Records (January 6, 2023)

2022

• Declassification of Records Relating to Nuclear Weapons Testing and Cleanup Activities in the Marshall Islands: Feasibility Study
• FY 2021 PIDB Annual Report to Congress

2021

• Letter to the President - JFK Assassination Records (September 27, 2021)
• Letter to the President - 9/11 Recommendations
• Letter to the President - On Modernizing Classification and Declassification

2020

• A Vision for the Digital Age: Modernization of the U.S. National Security Classification and Declassification System

In May 2020, the PIDB published recommendations to support the vision for a uniform, integrated, and modernized security classi­fication system that appro­priately defends national security interests instills confidence in the American people, and maintains sustainability in the digital environment.

2016

• The Importance of Technology in Classification and Declassification

In June 2016, the PIDB published observations and lessons learned from the in-depth study of agency declassification technology initiatives conducted by the PIDB Declassification Technology Working Group, an informal body with the support of CIOs, and represented by technologists from 14 Executive Branch agencies.

2014

• Setting Priorities: An Essential Step in Transforming Declassification

In 2014, the PIDB published a supplemental report, Setting Priorities: An Essential Step in Transforming Declassification. The supplemental report focused on topic-based declassification prioritization.  The PIDB makes the case for the government to adopt a centralized approach to topic-based prioritization and recommends specific policy and process changes aimed at improving access to historically significant records most sought-after by the public. 

2012

•  Transforming the Security Classification System 

In 2012, the PIDB published its Report to the President on Transforming the Security Classification System.  The report provided 14 key recommendations to reform the classification system so that it is more effective in the digital age.  The recommendations centered on the need for new policies for classifying information, new processes for declassifying information, and the imperative for using and integrating technology into these processes. 

2011

• Transforming Classification Policy Forum
• On December 9, 2009, President Barack Obama signed a presidential implementing memorandum for Executive Order 12958, as amended “Classified National Security Information.” The memorandum tasked the PIDB with conducting a study to "design a fundamental transformation of the security classification system." 
• ​As part of its study, the PIDB established the Transforming Classification Policy Forum via a blog on March 14, 2011, to propose new solutions to the public that address the shortcomings of the current system and tackle the challenges of digital records.  For eight weeks, the PIDB posted white papers on the following topics aimed at addressing inefficiencies and increasing public access to classified records:

  • Using Technology to Improve Classification and Declassification

  • Reconsidering Information Management in the Electronic Environment

  • Regularizing the Declassification Review of Classified Congressional Records

  • Discretionary Declassification and Release of Contemporary National Security Information

  • Simplifying the Declassification Review Process for Historical Records

  • Stewardship of Our Classified History

  • Information Security and Access in the Electronic Environment

  • A Half-Life for Historical Formerly Restricted Data (FRD)

The Forum solicited discussion from the public on these topics, resulting in over 80 ​comments and suggestions for improvements to the security classification system.  These comments helped shape many of the recommendations made by the PIDB in its 2012 Report to the President, Transforming the Security Classification System.

The PIDB invited the public to submit its white papers and received the following submissions:

• Steven Aftergood, Federation of American Scientists: “Set a Mandatory Performance Goal to Catalyze Transformation”

• Harry Cooper: “Transforming the National Security Classification Process: A Perspective On the Way Ahead”

• Sharon Bradford Franklin and Alison Roach, The Constitution Project: “Reining in Excessive Secrecy:  Recommendations for Reform of the Classification System”

• Mike German, American Civil Liberties Union: “Reducing Overclassification and Protecting the Public’s Right to Know”

• Bill Burr and Nate Jones, National Security Archive: “Three Ideas for Transformation: Classification Tax, Equity Reform, and Sunshine Dates”

• Ann Levin, CACI: “Self-Declassifying Documents: A System for Letting the Data Identify When It is Ready for Declassification”

• Elizabeth Goitein, Brennan Center for Justice: “Reducing Overclassification Through Accountability”

The success of the forum led to the PIDB continuing its use of the Transforming Classification blog as a vehicle to solicit public comment about its study.  In November 2011, the PIDB began the process of soliciting topics for prioritization in declassification via its blog.  Over 150 topics helped inform the recommendations the PIDB made in its 2014 supplemental report, Setting Priorities: An Essential Step in Transforming Declassification.

The PIDB continues to use the blog as a means to engage with the public and solicit new ideas on transformation. ​

2009

• Response from the National Security Advisor – September 2, 2009

This letter thanks the Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB) for their work in soliciting public comment for the review of Executive Order 12958, as amended.

• Letter to the National Security Advisor – July 21, 2009
• Summary of Comments Received from the Public – July 21, 2009

The letter and summary represent the efforts of the PIDB to satisfy the June 2, 2009 request of the National Security Advisor. The letter highlights four key themes that the Board saw in the public comments at the July 8, 2009 meeting and the Declassification Policy Forum. The summary of public comments is meant to capture not only what the public stated, but also the diversity of views.

• Declassification Policy Forum – June 28, 2009, through July 27, 2009

In response to the National Security Advisor's request, the PIDB hosted a blog discussion on four topics: Declassification Policy, National Declassification Center, Classification Policy, and Technology Challenges and Opportunities. The Board also held a public meeting on July 8, 2009, to solicit recommendations from members of the public.

The Forum had a very productive discussion and received more than 150 thoughtful comments from members of the public. The Public Interest Declassification Board has sent a letter and a summary of the comments to the National Security Advisor.

• Letter from the National Security Advisor– June 2, 2009, is a letter requesting that the PIDB hold a series of public forums to solicit recommendations for revisions to Executive Order 12958, as amended, "Classified National Security Information.
• PIDB Letter to the President – March 6, 2009, This letter makes recommendations to the President for a comprehensive reform of the current approach to declassification.

2008

• January 2, 2008, Improving Declassification

On January 2, 2008, the PIDB published its Report to the President on Improving Declassification.  This report highlights 15 issues in the declassification system and the corresponding recommendations from the PIDB.