Reform Government Secrecy

- The Latest
  Regular reporting on government secrecy, surveillance, and the rights of reporters and whistleblowers.
  - The Classifieds
  - News Releases
- Technology
  Working open source software products to protect journalists, newsrooms, and their sources.
  - SecureDrop
  - Dangerzone
- U.S. Press Freedom Tracker
  A database of press freedom incidents in the United States.
  - Data Visualizations
  - Explore the Database
- Digital Security Education
  Digital security trainings and resources for journalists.
  - Request a Training
  - Guides & Resources
- About Us
  Protecting and defending press freedom when we need it the most.
- Our Team
  - Staff & Contributors
  - Board of Directors
- Transparency
  - Reports & Financials
  - Announcements
- Get in Touch
  - Jobs & Internships
  - Contact Us
Take action
Donate

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.

Write a letter for the Ellsberg Act

First Name * Last Name
Email Address *
Street Address * Zip Code * Enter a five digit US ZIP code

Edit this message so that it is unique to you: Dear Member of Congress, I am deeply troubled by the continued use of the Espionage Act of 1917 to threaten journalists and whistleblowers. This law has been used by administrations of both parties to criminalize those who expose government wrongdoing. We need transparency now more than ever. I am asking that you PLEASE SUPPORT the Daniel Ellsberg Press Freedom and Whistleblower Protection Act, recently introduced by Rep. Rashida Tlaib. This bill would fix the outdated Espionage Act in key ways, and place the right to know what the government is doing above self-serving secrecy. Without these fixes, government transparency will continue to diminish, making it harder for the public, and your office, to hold the executive branch accountable. I urge you to use your influence to safeguard the First Amendment by supporting the Ellsberg Act. Your efforts will have major implications for the public’s faith in our institutions. Thank you. URLs are not allowed in this message.

* Required. We will not share your information with third parties. Learn more

Something went wrong processing this request. Please try again later.

Opt in to email updates from Freedom of the Press Foundation

Something went wrong and your email updates subscription could not be processed. Please visit our signup page and try again.

Thank you for urging lawmakers to stand up for press freedom and transparency.

Donate

Share this message on social media:
Join me in urging Congress to ensure that journalists and whistleblowers aren’t persecuted for exposing wrongdoing.

Featured Items

Copyright abuses preview a world without Section 230
Online Censorship•Article
Congress should not encourage censorship whenever someone baselessly alleges defamation

April 21, 2023 Seth Stern
Congress: Don’t let jet owners cover their tracks on the taxpayer dime
FOIA•Article
Protect press and public access to private jet flight data

March 20, 2023 Seth Stern
Unconstitutional gag order creates mass confusion in Idaho
Court access•Article
Order restrains news reporting while failing to advance fair trial rights

Feb. 8, 2023 Seth Stern
Government is at its most innovative when ducking transparency
FOIA•Article
Agencies are increasingly emboldened to preempt records requests with closure rules

Feb. 3, 2023 Seth Stern
Judges can now censor the internet on the taxpayer dime
Court access•Article
Congress gifts judges unprecedented and unconstitutional powers.

Jan. 12, 2023 Seth Stern
It’s time for open records laws to promote transparency
FOIA•Article
Agencies misuse exemptions to cause delay and expense.

Dec. 22, 2022 Seth Stern
The Supreme Court leaks keep coming — and that’s good
Leaks•Article
In the week since Politico dropped its blockbuster reporting on a draft Supreme Court decision that would overturn Roe v. Wade, the floodgates of leaks have opened. That’s a good thing.

May 11, 2022 Parker Higgins
Senate FOIA hearing brings hard questions for government witnesses
FOIA•Article
Lawmakers called for modernization and an answer to a “basic question about how FOIA is operating in the context of new technology.”

March 31, 2022 Parker Higgins
Supreme Court entrenches ‘state secrets’ privilege, dealing a blow to accountability
Secrecy•Article
The Supreme Court upheld and potentially expanded its pernicious “state secrets” privilege in two opinions late last week relating to expansive government surveillance and anti-terrorism programs.

March 8, 2022 Parker Higgins
Appeals court says that Nixon’s attempt to prosecute Pentagon Papers reporter must stay secret — 50 years later
Secrecy•Article
The Nixon admin tried to prosecute the New York Times under the same statute the Justice Department is going after Julian Assange today.

March 3, 2022 Trevor Timm