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A pile of classified redacted documents — AI-generated image

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.

Tell Congress to support the Presidential Records Act

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Edit this message so that it is unique to you: Dear [Senator/Representative], As your constituent, I am writing to urge you to ISSUE A STATEMENT explicitly reaffirming that the Presidential Records Act is constitutional and that any claims to the contrary are not lawful and threaten our democracy. This is necessary in response to the Department of Justice’s recent memo claiming the PRA is unconstitutional, arguing that a president’s records are private property. This is wrong and flips 50 years of transparency on its head. The law has required every president since Ronald Reagan to turn their records over to the government at the end of their term. This ensures that the “American story” belongs to the public, not just those who inhabit the White House. This transparency provided vital insights into Democratic and Republican administrations alike, on topics ranging from the Obama administration’s Iran nuclear deal and the George W. Bush administration’s response to Hurricane Katrina. If this DOJ memo stands, every future president, Democrat or Republican, will operate in total darkness. This is a bipartisan emergency. I am asking you to PLEASE SPEAK OUT and use your influence to safeguard the PRA. Your efforts to ensure our government remains transparent will have major implications for the public’s faith in our democracy. Thank you. URLs are not allowed in this message.

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Thank you for urging lawmakers to stand against dangerous secrecy.

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Join me in urging Congress to defend the Presidential Records Act, thus ensuring that the American story belongs to the public — not whoever is in the White House.

Featured Items

FPF talks government secrecy and national security reporting
Secrecy•Article
Interview with first Ellsberg Chair Lauren Harper highlights overclassification, whistleblowers, and national security reporting

Published Sept. 16, 2024 Freedom of the Press Foundation
Biden should declassify Senate report on CIA torture program
Secrecy•Article
Release would help counter growing evidence that the agency has become too powerful for oversight

Published Sept. 11, 2024 Lauren Harper
NY law will needlessly delay release of public records
FOIA•Article
Requirement to notify government employees when their disciplinary records are requested is about secrecy, not privacy

Published Sept. 6, 2024 Seth Stern
New bipartisan Senate bill seeks to reduce overclassification
Secrecy•Article
A World War I-era document containing a secret ink recipe that the CIA deemed worthy of classification for nearly 100 years

Published Aug. 28, 2024 Lauren Harper
Gag rules stifle financial journalism
Secrecy•Article
The government cannot silence its critics to save itself from embarrassment

Published July 31, 2024 Freedom of the Press Foundation
Copyright and public records don’t mix
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A new court decision using copyright law to deny release of public records from the Covenant School shooting investigation harms the public’s right to know

Published July 16, 2024 Caitlin Vogus
Revisiting the undercover Alito recording, post-Trump v. United States
Court access•Article
The secret taping, condemned by journalistic ethicists, is actually a prime example of when surreptitious reporting is justified

Published July 11, 2024 Seth Stern
States keep public in dark with anti-transparency reforms
FOIA•Article
Laws limiting public records access make it harder for journalists to hold executive branch officials accountable

Published June 13, 2024 Caitlin Vogus
Public must have access to U.S. report on military aid
Biden•News Release
Biden administration has no reason to withhold Congressional report on how foreign recipients of U.S. military assistance comply with human rights law

Published May 7, 2024 Freedom of the Press Foundation
NJ court to journalist on publication of official’s address: Do you feel lucky, punk?
Prior Restraint•Article
Decision empowers state officials to try to stop reporting they dislike

Published April 30, 2024 Caitlin Vogus