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
-
Government is at its most innovative when ducking transparency
Agencies are increasingly emboldened to preempt records requests with closure rules
-
Judges can now censor the internet on the taxpayer dime
Congress gifts judges unprecedented and unconstitutional powers.
-
It’s time for open records laws to promote transparency
Agencies misuse exemptions to cause delay and expense.
-
The Supreme Court leaks keep coming — and that’s good
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.
-
Senate FOIA hearing brings hard questions for government witnesses
Lawmakers called for modernization and an answer to a “basic question about how FOIA is operating in the context of new technology.”
-
Supreme Court entrenches ‘state secrets’ privilege, dealing a blow to accountability
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.
-
Appeals court says that Nixon’s attempt to prosecute Pentagon Papers reporter must stay secret — 50 years later
The Nixon admin tried to prosecute the New York Times under the same statute the Justice Department is going after Julian Assange today.
-
Understanding the new CIA mass surveillance scandal
The CIA is operating a mass surveillance program affecting Americans entirely in secret.
-
Government secrecy kills
Even the Director of National Intelligence admits the U.S. secrecy system is horribly broken.
-
‘Concerns’ raised in NSA watchdog report, but still no meaningful oversight
Stop us if you've heard this one before: the NSA failed to follow procedural and policy requirements surrounding the use of surveillance data collected on U.S. persons, according to a new report from the group's Office of the Inspector General.
