Reform Government Secrecy
The U.S. classifies far too many secrets, obstructing democracy.
More on the IssueFeatured Issues
The Trump secrecy assessment
The first Trump administration flouted transparency norms, preservation laws, and attempts at congressional oversight. How might a second Trump term continue this trend?
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.
Heritage Foundation sends lots of FOIAs. That shouldn’t be a problem
A records request can be legitimate even if its goal is unpopular
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
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
Government hides its best hurricane predictions
It’s hurricane season, but the government is placing ‘trade secrets’ above public safety
Declassify RT records so the public can vet administration's claims
Letting the public see the actual documents would strengthen Biden administration's declassification efforts
Biden should declassify Senate report on CIA torture program
Release would help counter growing evidence that the agency has become too powerful for oversight
New bipartisan Senate bill seeks to reduce overclassification
A World War I-era document containing a secret ink recipe that the CIA deemed worthy of classification for nearly 100 years
