Amendment requires Director of National Intelligence to improve system for classifying and declassifying intelligence documents

 

WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives today passed the Intelligence Authorization Act, which included an amendment offered by Congressman John Carney (D-DE).

 

The amendment works in concert with the Administration’s efforts to modernize and transform the security classification system and would require the Director of National Intelligence to issue a report to Congress within 180 days of enactment that details how to improve the declassification process across the intelligence community. This report would also include what steps the intelligence community can take, or what legislation may be necessary, to enable the National Declassification Center to better accomplish the missions assigned to it by Executive Order 13526, which outlines how classified information should be handled.

 

“While Americans across the political spectrum have differing thoughts on Edward Snowden’s actions over the past year, the fact remains that many of Snowden’s revelations were disturbing and upsetting to many, including me,” said Congressman Carney. “In order for the American people to maintain faith in their government, we must ensure that the government is operating in the most transparent way possible, while still ensuring our national security.”

 

The Obama Administration has pledged to declassify documents that no longer need to be held secret, and to revamp the method used to determine which documents ought to be classified. However, bureaucratic resistance across the intelligence community has severely hampered this effort. Congressman Carney’s amendment seeks to break this stalemate.

 

“I fully understand the need to keep some information protected from our enemies,” said Congressman Carney. “But there are currently hundreds of millions of classified pages of documents and to the extent possible -- we ought to open them to public scrutiny. This amendment orders an evaluation of our current system of classification to determine whether our policies are overly broad or protective. It’s a simple amendment, and particularly important during this time when the American people have had their confidence in their government shaken.”

 

The Congressman’s amendment passed the House by voice vote. The Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 2014 and 2015, H.R. 4681, passed the House by a vote of 345 – 59, with the Congressman’s support.

 

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