The Trump secrecy assessment
The U.S. classifies far too many secrets, obstructing democracy.
Excessive government secrecy takes many forms, from agencies needlessly claiming documents are classified to ignoring information requests and destroying records — even when the documents show government fraud or illegal conduct. This hinders a free press, effective oversight, and the public’s ability to self govern.
We need to fight for systemic improvements, and we need the press to vigorously question the government every time it says something is classified.
Featured Items
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Congress’s declassification work shouldn’t end with JFK
Today is the anniversary of the JFK assassination. Congress passed a landmark law over 30 years to release millions of pages of assassination records, even though it doesn’t normally get involved in declassification efforts.
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Congress took the lead on JFK declassification. That should happen more often
It’s the anniversary of JFK’s assassination, and the law that released millions of pages of assassination records is over 30 years old. It's time for Congress to resume high-level declassification reviews
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The government abuses spying powers no matter who the president is
An effort by social platform X to weaken the government’s ability to spy on citizens and hide the fact it does so should have broad bipartisan support
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Trump’s reelection puts us in uncharted territory over secrecy. Now what?
Steps President Biden, press, public, and members of Congress must take to fight secrecy abuses to come
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Four more years … of government secrecy?
How secretive would a second Trump or a Harris administration be? And how much could either presidential candidate rein in the government’s sprawling secrecy system if they wanted to?
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Excessive government secrecy and the presidential election
This multipart series assesses the secrecy risks of both presidential candidates, the systemic problems that will challenge either presidential administration, and the ways the public can most effectively fight for transparency.
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Heritage Foundation sends lots of FOIAs. That shouldn’t be a problem
A records request can be legitimate even if its goal is unpopular
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Time for Biden to declassify Khashoggi intelligence
Reports on the journalist’s murder are still secret. Their release would place democratic principles over a relationship with an authoritarian ruler
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President Carter is 100. The CIA still keeps his Camp David records secret
A fitting birthday present for President Carter would be the full declassifying of the CIA’s records on the 1978 Camp David Accords
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Prepublication review can’t improve while overclassification surges
It’s too hard for former officials to write about their work. A new directive tries to help, but it won’t solve the real problem: The government thinks too many things are secret
