DOD puts new emphasis on declassification

The Pentagon has released a directive aimed at ensuring the declassification of national security information receives “equal attention” as the classification of information.

"Declassification of information will receive equal attention as the classification of information so that information remains classified only as long as required by national security considerations," according to the April 21 directive signed by Marcel Lettre, the under secretary of defense for intelligence.

The provision, first reported by Secrecy News, also mandates that "the volume of classified national security information and [controlled unclassified information], in whatever format or media, will be reduced to the minimum necessary to meet operational requirements."

The new directive, however, stresses the need for DOD leadership to address unauthorized disclosure of classified information.

“Commanders and supervisors at all levels must consider and, at their discretion, take appropriate administrative, judicial, contractual, or other corrective/disciplinary action to address negligent discharges of classified information commensurate with the seriousness of the security violation,” the provision states.