Public Interest Declassification Board to Host a Public Meeting at the National Archives on December 8
Media Alert · Monday, December 5, 2016

Washington, DC

WHAT: The Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB) will host a public meeting to discuss recommendations for improved transparency and open government for the new Presidential Administration.  The PIDB is soliciting ideas for revising Executive Order 13526, “Classified National Security Information” in support of reducing over-classification, improving declassification, and ensuring a credible and transparent security classification system.

WHO: Speakers will include:

• David Ferriero, Archivist of the United States
• Alexander Joel, Chief of the Office of Civil Liberties, Privacy and Transparency for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence
• Sheryl Shenberger, Director of the National Declassification Center, National Archives
• Elizabeth Goitein, Brennan Center for Justice
• Steven Aftergood, Federation of American Scientists
• Patrice McDermott, OpentheGovernment.org
• Nate Jones, National Security Archive
   

WHEN: Thursday, December 8, 9 a.m. to 11 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 PIDB staff at 202-357-5342 or pidb@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 has nine members, five appointed by the President and four by the Congressional leadership.  The President appointed Trevor W. Morrison as Chair, and James E. Baker, Laura A. DeBonis, William H. Leary, and Solomon B. Watson IV as members of the Board. The Majority Leader of the Senate appointed Sanford J. Ungar and the Minority Leader of the Senate appointed Kenneth L. Wainstein. Stay connected to the Board’s activities and look for more information about the Board on its website ( http://www.archives.gov/declassification/pidb) and its blog, Transforming Classification.