§ 3161. Procedures

§ 3161. Procedures

(a) Not later than 180 days after October 14, 1994, the President shall, by Executive order or regulation, establish procedures to govern access to classified information which shall be binding upon all departments, agencies, and offices of the executive branch of Government. Such procedures shall, at a minimum—

(1) provide that, except as may be permitted by the President, no employee in the executive branch of Government may be given access to classified information by any department, agency, or office of the executive branch of Government unless, based upon an appropriate background investigation, such access is determined to be clearly consistent with the national security interests of the United States;

(2) establish uniform minimum requirements governing the scope and frequency of background investigations and reinvestigations for all employees in the executive branch of Government who require access to classified information as part of their official responsibilities;

(3) provide that all employees in the executive branch of Government who require access to classified information shall be required as a condition of such access to provide to the employing department or agency written consent which permits access by an authorized investigative agency to relevant financial records, other financial information, consumer reports, travel records, and computers used in the performance of Government duties, as determined by the President, in accordance with section 3162 of this title, during the period of access to classified information and for a period of three years thereafter;

(4) provide that all employees in the executive branch of Government who require access to particularly sensitive classified information, as determined by the President, shall be required, as a condition of maintaining access to such information, to submit to the employing department or agency, during the period of such access, relevant information concerning their financial condition and foreign travel, as determined by the President, as may be necessary to ensure appropriate security; and

(5) establish uniform minimum standards to ensure that employees in the executive branch of Government whose access to classified information is being denied or terminated under this subchapter are appropriately advised of the reasons for such denial or termination and are provided an adequate opportunity to respond to all adverse information which forms the basis for such denial or termination before final action by the department or agency concerned.

(b)

(1) Subsection (a) shall not be deemed to limit or affect the responsibility and power of an agency head pursuant to other law or Executive order to deny or terminate access to classified information if the national security so requires. Such responsibility and power may be exercised only when the agency head determines that the procedures prescribed by subsection (a) cannot be invoked in a manner that is consistent with the national security.

(2) Upon the exercise of such responsibility, the agency head shall submit a report to the congressional intelligence committees.

(July 26, 1947, ch. 343, title VIII, § 801, as added Pub. L. 103–359, title VIII, § 802(a), Oct. 14, 1994, 108 Stat. 3435; amended Pub. L. 106–120, title III, § 305(a), Dec. 3, 1999, 113 Stat. 1611; Pub. L. 107–306, title III, § 353(b)(2)(B), Nov. 27, 2002, 116 Stat. 2402.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 435 of this title prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

Amendments

2002—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 107–306 substituted “congressional intelligence committees” for “Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate”.

1999—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 106–120 substituted “travel records, and computers used in the performance of Government duties” for “and travel records”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1999 Amendment

Pub. L. 106–120, title III, § 305(c), Dec. 3, 1999, 113 Stat. 1612, provided that: “The President shall modify the procedures required by section 801(a)(3) of the National Security Act of 1947 [50 U.S.C. 3161(a)(3)] to take into account the amendment to that section made by subsection (a) of this section not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 3, 1999].”

Effective Date

Pub. L. 103–359, title VIII, § 802(c), Oct. 14, 1994, 108 Stat. 3438, provided that: “The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) [enacting this subchapter] shall take effect 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 14, 1994].”

Intelligence Community-Wide Policy on Prepublication Review

Pub. L. 118–31, div. G, title III, § 7322, Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 1038, provided that: “Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 22, 2023], the Director of National Intelligence shall issue, and submit to the congressional intelligence committees, the Committee on the Judiciary, the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, and the Committee on the Judiciary, the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, an intelligence community-wide policy regarding prepublication review.”

[For definitions of “intelligence community” and “congressional intelligence committees” as used in section 7322 of Pub. L. 118–31, set out above, see section 7002 of Pub. L. 118–31, set out as a note under section 3003 of this title.]

Declassification of Information Related to the Origin of COVID–19

Pub. L. 118–2, Mar. 20, 2023, 137 Stat. 4, provided that: “SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.“This Act may be cited as the ‘COVID–19 Origin Act of 2023’. “SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.“It is the sense of Congress that—“(1) identifying the origin of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19) is critical for preventing a similar pandemic from occurring in the future; “(2) there is reason to believe the COVID–19 pandemic may have originated at the Wuhan Institute of Virology; and “(3) the Director of National Intelligence should declassify and make available to the public as much information as possible about the origin of COVID–19 so the United States and like-minded countries can—“(A) identify the origin of COVID–19 as expeditiously as possible, and “(B) use that information to take all appropriate measures to prevent a similar pandemic from occurring again. “SEC. 3. DECLASSIFICATION OF INFORMATION RELATED TO THE ORIGIN OF COVID–19.“Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Mar. 20, 2023], the Director of National Intelligence shall—“(1) declassify any and all information relating to potential links between the Wuhan Institute of Virology and the origin of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19), including—“(A) activities performed by the Wuhan Institute of Virology with or on behalf of the People’s Liberation Army; “(B) coronavirus research or other related activities performed at the Wuhan Institute of Virology prior to the outbreak of COVID–19; and “(C) researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology who fell ill in autumn 2019, including for any such researcher—“(i) the researcher’s name; “(ii) the researcher’s symptoms; “(iii) the date of the onset of the researcher’s symptoms; “(iv) the researcher’s role at the Wuhan Institute of Virology; “(v) whether the researcher was involved with or exposed to coronavirus research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology; “(vi) whether the researcher visited a hospital while they were ill; and “(vii) a description of any other actions taken by the researcher that may suggest they were experiencing a serious illness at the time; and “(2) submit to Congress an unclassified report that contains—“(A) all of the information described under paragraph (1); and “(B) only such redactions as the Director determines necessary to protect sources and methods.”

Director of National Intelligence Declassification Review of Information Relating to Terrorist Attacks of September 11, 2001

Pub. L. 117–103, div. X, title III, § 310, Mar. 15, 2022, 136 Stat. 972, provided that: “(a) Declassification Review Required.—Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Mar. 15, 2022], the Director of National Intelligence shall, in coordination with the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, and the heads of such other elements of the intelligence community as the Director of National Intelligence considers appropriate, commence a declassification review (which the Director of National Intelligence shall complete by not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act) to determine what, if any, additional information relating to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, can be appropriately declassified and shared with the public. “(b) Information Covered.—The information reviewed under subsection (a) shall include the following:“(1) Information relating to the direction, facilitation, and other support provided to the individuals who carried out the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. “(2) Information from Operation Encore and the PENTTBOM investigation of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. “(c) Report.—Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of National Intelligence shall submit to the congressional intelligence committees a report on the findings of the Director with respect to the declassification review conducted under subsection (a).”

[For definitions of “congressional intelligence committees” and “intelligence community” as used in section 310 of div. X of Pub. L. 117–103, set out above, see section 2 of div. X of Pub. L. 117–103, set out as a note under section 3003 of this title.]

Efficient Use of Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities

Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title XVI, § 1623, Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4056, provided that: “Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Jan. 1, 2021], the Director of National Intelligence, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, shall issue revised guidance authorizing and directing departments and agencies of the Federal Government and appropriately cleared contractors of such departments and agencies to process, store, use, and discuss sensitive compartmented information at facilities previously approved to handle such information, without need for further approval by the department or agency or by the site. Such guidance shall apply to controlled access programs of the intelligence community and to special access programs of the Department of Defense.”

Trusted Information Provider Program for National Security Positions and Positions of Trust

Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title IX, § 941, Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1941, formerly set out as a note under this section, was transferred and is set out as a note under section 3352f of this title.

Review of Position Designations for Determining Appropriate Background Investigations

Pub. L. 115–173, §§ 2, 7, May 22, 2018, 132 Stat. 1291, 1293, provided that: “SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.“In this Act [see Short Title of 2018 Amendment note set out under section 3001 of this title]—“(1) the term ‘Bureau’ means the National Background Investigations Bureau of the Office; “(2) the term ‘Director’ means the Director of National Intelligence acting as the Security Executive Agent; and “(3) the term ‘Office’ means the Office of Personnel Management acting as the Suitability and Credentialing Executive Agent. “SEC. 7. REVIEW AND UPDATE OF POSITION DESIGNATION GUIDANCE.“(a) Definitions.—In this section—“(1) the term ‘agency’ has the meaning given the term in Executive Order 13467 (73 Fed. Reg. 38103) [set out below], or any successor thereto; “(2) the term ‘appropriate congressional committees’ means—“(A) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; and “(B) the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform [now Committee on Oversight and Accountability] and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives; “(3) the term ‘background investigation’ means any investigation required for the purpose of determining the—“(A) eligibility of a covered individual for logical and physical access to Federally controlled facilities or information systems; “(B) suitability or fitness of a covered individual for Federal employment; “(C) eligibility of a covered individual for access to classified information or to hold a national security sensitive position; or “(D) fitness of a covered individual to perform work for or on behalf of the United States Government as a contractor employee; and “(4) the term ‘covered individual’—“(A) means a person who performs work for or on behalf of the executive branch or seeks to perform work for or on behalf of the executive branch; “(B) is not limited to Federal employees; “(C) includes all persons, not excluded under subparagraph (D), who require eligibility for access to classified information or eligibility to hold a sensitive position, including, but not limited to, contractors, subcontractors, licensees, certificate holders, grantees, experts, consultants, and government employees; and “(D) does not include—“(i) the President; “(ii) employees of the President under section 105 or 107 of title 3, United States Code (except to the extent otherwise directed by the President); “(iii) the Vice President; or “(iv) employees of the Vice President under section 106 of title 3, United States Code, or an annual legislative branch appropriations Act (except to the extent otherwise directed by the Vice President). “(b) Review and Updating.—“(1) Initial review and update of guidance.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act [May 22, 2018], the Director and the Director of the Office shall review and make recommendations to Congress and the President as appropriate to issue guidance to assist agencies in determining—“(A) position sensitivity designation; and “(B) the appropriate background investigation to initiate for each position designation. “(2) Reviews and revisions of position designations.—Not less frequently than every 4 years, the President, acting through relevant agencies (as determined by the President) and in accordance with the guidance described in paragraph (1), shall review and, if necessary, revise the position designation of positions within agencies. “(c) Reports to Congress.—Not later than 30 days after completing a review under subsection (b)(2), the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on—“(1) any issues identified in the review; and “(2) the number of position designations revised as a result of the review. “(d) No Change in Authority.—Nothing in this section limits or expands the authority of any agency to designate a position as sensitive or as requiring its occupant to have access to classified information.”

Classification Review of Executive Branch Materials in the Possession of the Congressional Intelligence Committees

Pub. L. 111–259, title VII, § 702, Oct. 7, 2010, 124 Stat. 2745, provided that: “The Director of National Intelligence is authorized to conduct, at the request of one of the congressional intelligence committees and in accordance with procedures established by that committee, a classification review of materials in the possession of that committee that— “(1) are not less than 25 years old; and “(2) were created, or provided to that committee, by an entity in the executive branch.”

[For definition of “congressional intelligence committees” as used in section 702 of Pub. L. 111–259, set out above, see section 2 of Pub. L. 111–259, set out as a note under section 3003 of this title.]

Promotion of Accurate Classification of Information

Pub. L. 111–258, § 6, Oct. 7, 2010, 124 Stat. 2651, provided that: “(a) Incentives for Accurate Classifications.—In making cash awards under chapter 45 of title 5, United States Code, the President or the head of an Executive agency with an officer or employee who is authorized to make original classification decisions or derivative classification decisions may consider such officer’s or employee’s consistent and proper classification of information. “(b) Inspector General Evaluations.—“(1) Requirement for evaluations.—Not later than September 30, 2016, the inspector general of each department or agency of the United States with an officer or employee who is authorized to make original classifications, in consultation with the Information Security Oversight Office, shall carry out no less than two evaluations of that department or agency or a component of the department or agency—“(A) to assess whether applicable classification policies, procedures, rules, and regulations have been adopted, followed, and effectively administered within such department, agency, or component; and “(B) to identify policies, procedures, rules, regulations, or management practices that may be contributing to persistent misclassification of material within such department, agency or component. “(2) Deadlines for evaluations.—“(A) Initial evaluations.—Each first evaluation required by paragraph (1) shall be completed no later than September 30, 2013. “(B) Second evaluations.—Each second evaluation required by paragraph (1) shall review progress made pursuant to the results of the first evaluation and shall be completed no later than September 30, 2016. “(3) Reports.—“(A) Requirement.—Each inspector general who is required to carry out an evaluation under paragraph (1) shall submit to the appropriate entities a report on each such evaluation. “(B) Content.—Each report submitted under subparagraph (A) shall include a description of—“(i) the policies, procedures, rules, regulations, or management practices, if any, identified by the inspector general under paragraph (1)(B); and “(ii) the recommendations, if any, of the inspector general to address any such identified policies, procedures, rules, regulations, or management practices. “(C) Coordination.—The inspectors general who are required to carry out evaluations under paragraph (1) shall coordinate with each other and with the Information Security Oversight Office to ensure that evaluations follow a consistent methodology, as appropriate, that allows for cross-agency comparisons. “(4) Appropriate entities defined.—In this subsection, the term ‘appropriate entities’ means—“(A) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; “(B) the Committee on Homeland Security, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform [now Committee on Oversight and Accountability], and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives; “(C) any other committee of Congress with jurisdiction over a department or agency referred to in paragraph (1); “(D) the head of a department or agency referred to in paragraph (1); and “(E) the Director of the Information Security Oversight Office.”

[For definitions of terms used in section 6 of Pub. L. 111–258, set out above, see section 3 of Pub. L. 111–258, set out as a note under section 3344 of this title.]

Declassification of Information

Pub. L. 106–567, title VII, Dec. 27, 2000, 114 Stat. 2856, as amended by Pub. L. 108–458, title I, § 1102, Dec. 17, 2004, 118 Stat. 3699; Pub. L. 110–53, title VI, § 602, Aug. 3, 2007, 121 Stat. 335; Pub. L. 111–259, title III, § 365, Oct. 7, 2010, 124 Stat. 2702; Pub. L. 112–235, § 2, Dec. 28, 2012, 126 Stat. 1626; Pub. L. 113–126, title III, § 311, July 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 1399, known as the Public Interest Declassification Act of 2000 and formerly set out as a note under this section, was transferred to subchapter III–A (§ 3355 et seq.) of chapter 45 of this title.

Certification and Report Related to Automatic Declassification of Department of Defense Records

Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title X, § 1041(c), (d), Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 758, provided that: “(c) Certification Required With Respect To Automatic Declassification of Records.—No records of the Department of Defense that have not been reviewed for declassification shall be subject to automatic declassification unless the Secretary of Defense certifies to Congress that such declassification would not harm the national security. “(d) Report on Automatic Declassification of Department of Defense Records.—Not later than February 1, 2001, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate a report on the efforts of the Department of Defense relating to the declassification of classified records under the control of the Department of Defense. Such report shall include the following:“(1) An assessment of whether the Department will be able to review all relevant records for declassification before any date established for automatic declassification. “(2) An estimate of the cost of reviewing records to meet any requirement to review all relevant records for declassification by a date established for automatic declassification. “(3) An estimate of the number of records, if any, that the Department will be unable to review for declassification before any such date and the affect [sic] on national security of the automatic declassification of those records. “(4) An estimate of the length of time by which any such date would need to be extended to avoid the automatic declassification of records that have not yet been reviewed as of such date.”

Supplement to Plan for Declassification of Restricted Data and Formerly Restricted Data

Pub. L. 106–65, div. C, title XXXI, § 3149, Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 938, which was formerly set out as a note under this section, was renumbered section 4523 of Pub. L. 107–314, the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003, by Pub. L. 108–136, div. C, title XXXI, § 3141(h)(13)(A)–(C), Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1775, and is classified to section 2673 of this title.

Identification in Budget Materials of Amounts for Declassification Activities and Limitation on Expenditures for Such Activities

Pub. L. 106–65, div. C, title XXXI, § 3173, Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 949, which was formerly set out as a note under this section, was renumbered section 4525 of Pub. L. 107–314, the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003, by Pub. L. 108–136, div. C, title XXXI, § 3141(h)(15)(A)–(C), Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1775, and is classified to section 2675 of this title.

Protection Against Inadvertent Release of Restricted Data and Formerly Restricted Data

Pub. L. 105–261, div. C, title XXXI, § 3161, Oct. 17, 1998, 112 Stat. 2259, as amended by Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title X, § 1067(3), Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 774; Pub. L. 106–398, § 1 [div. C, title XXXI, § 3193(a)], Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1654, 1654A–480, which was formerly set out as a note under this section, was renumbered section 4522 of Pub. L. 107–314, the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003, by Pub. L. 108–136, div. C, title XXXI, § 3141(h)(12)(A)–(C), Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1774, and is classified to section 2672 of this title.

Voluntary Service Program

Pub. L. 104–93, title IV, § 402, Jan. 6, 1996, 109 Stat. 969, authorized the Director of Central Intelligence to establish and maintain a program from fiscal years 1996 through 2001 to utilize the services contributed by not more than 50 annuitants who served without compensation as volunteers in aid of the review for declassification or downgrading of classified information by the Central Intelligence Agency under applicable Executive orders governing the classification and declassification of national security information and Pub. L. 102–526 (44 U.S.C. 2107 note).

Commission on Protecting and Reducing Government Secrecy

Pub. L. 103–236, title IX, Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 525, known as the “Protection and Reduction of Government Secrecy Act”, established for a two-year period a Commission on Protecting and Reducing Government Secrecy to conduct an investigation into all matters in any way related to any legislation, executive order, regulation, practice, or procedure relating to classified information or granting security clearances and to submit to the Congress a final report containing such recommendations not later than two years after the date of the first meeting of the Commission and terminated Commission 60 days after the date on which a final report is submitted (final report submitted on Mar. 3, 1997).

Disclosure of Information Concerning Unaccounted for United States Personnel of Cold War, Korean Conflict, and Vietnam Era

Pub. L. 102–190, div. A, title X, § 1082, Dec. 5, 1991, 105 Stat. 1480, as amended by Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title X, § 1036, Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2841; Pub. L. 104–106, div. A, title X, § 1085, Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 457, provided that: “(a) Public Availability of Information.—(1) Except as provided in subsection (b), the Secretary of Defense shall, with respect to any information referred to in paragraph (2), place the information in a suitable library-like location within a facility within the National Capital region for public review and photocopying. “(2) Paragraph (1) applies to any record, live-sighting report, or other information in the custody of the official custodian referred to in subsection (d)(3) that may pertain to the location, treatment, or condition of (A) United States personnel who remain not accounted for as a result of service in the Armed Forces or other Federal Government service during the Korean conflict, the Vietnam era, or the Cold War, or (B) their remains. “(b) Exceptions.—(1) The Secretary of Defense may not make a record or other information available to the public pursuant to subsection (a) if—“(A) the record or other information is exempt from the disclosure requirements of section 552 of title 5, United States Code, by reason of subsection (b) of that section; or “(B) the record or other information is in a system of records exempt from the requirements of subsection (d) of section 552a of such title pursuant to subsection (j) or (k) of that section. “(2) The Secretary of Defense may not make a record or other information available to the public pursuant to subsection (a) if the record or other information specifically mentions a person by name unless—“(A) in the case of a person who is alive (and not incapacitated) and whose whereabouts are known, that person expressly consents in writing to the disclosure of the record or other information; or “(B) in the case of a person who is dead or incapacitated or whose whereabouts are unknown, a family member or family members of that person determined by the Secretary of Defense to be appropriate for such purpose expressly consent in writing to the disclosure of the record or other information. “(3)(A) The limitation on disclosure in paragraph (2) does not apply in the case of a person who is dead or incapacitated or whose whereabouts are unknown if the family member or members of that person determined pursuant to subparagraph (B) of that paragraph cannot be located by the Secretary of Defense—“(i) in the case of a person missing from the Vietnam era, after a reasonable effort; and “(ii) in the case of a person missing from the Korean Conflict or Cold War, after a period of 90 days from the date on which any record or other information referred to in paragraph (2) is received by the Department of Defense for disclosure review from the Archivist of the United States, the Library of Congress, or the Joint United States-Russian Commission on POW/MIAs. “(B) Paragraph (2) does not apply to the access of an adult member of the family of a person to any record or information to the extent that the record or other information relates to that person. “(C) The authority of a person to consent to disclosure of a record or other information for the purposes of paragraph (2) may be delegated to another person or an organization only by means of an express legal power of attorney granted by the person authorized by that paragraph to consent to the disclosure. “(c) Deadlines.—(1) In the case of records or other information originated by the Department of Defense, the official custodian shall make such records and other information available to the public pursuant to this section not later than January 2, 1996. Such records or other information shall be made available as soon as a review carried out for the purposes of subsection (b) is completed. “(2) Whenever a department or agency of the Federal Government receives any record or other information referred to in subsection (a) that is required by this section to be made available to the public, the head of that department or agency shall ensure that such record or other information is provided to the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary shall make such record or other information available in accordance with subsection (a) as soon as possible and, in any event, not later than one year after the date on which the record or information is received by the department or agency of the Federal Government. “(3) If the Secretary of Defense determines that the disclosure of any record or other information referred to in subsection (a) by the date required by paragraph (1) or (2) may compromise the safety of any United States personnel referred to in subsection (a)(2) who remain not accounted for but who may still be alive in captivity, then the Secretary may withhold that record or other information from the disclosure otherwise required by this section. Whenever the Secretary makes a determination under the preceding sentence, the Secretary shall immediately notify the President and the Congress of that determination. “(d) Definitions.—For purposes of this section:“(1) The terms ‘Korean conflict’ and ‘Vietnam era’ have the meanings given those terms in section 101 of title 38, United States Code. “(2) The term ‘Cold War’ means the period from the end of World War II to the beginning of the Korean conflict and the period from the end of the Korean conflict to the beginning of the Vietnam era. “(3) The term ‘official custodian’ means—“(A) in the case of records, reports, and information relating to the Korean conflict or the Cold War, the Archivist of the United States; and “(B) in the case of records, reports, and information relating to the Vietnam era, the Secretary of Defense.”

Disclosure of Information Concerning American Personnel Listed as Prisoner, Missing, or Unaccounted for in Southeast Asia

Pub. L. 100–453, title IV, § 404, Sept. 29, 1988, 102 Stat. 1908, provided that: “(a) This section is enacted to ensure that current disclosure policy is incorporated into law. “(b) Except as provided in subsection (c), the head of each department or agency—“(1) with respect to which funds are authorized under this Act [see Tables for classification], and “(2) which holds or receives live sighting reports of any United States citizen reported missing in action, prisoner of war, or unaccounted for from the Vietnam Conflict, shall make available to the next-of-kin of that United States citizen all reports, or portions thereof, held by that department or agency which have been correlated or possibly correlated to that citizen. “(c) Subsection (b) does not apply with respect to—“(1) information that would reveal or compromise sources and methods of intelligence collection; or “(2) specific information that previously has been made available to the next-of-kin. “(d) The head of each department or agency covered by subsection (a) shall make information available under this section in a timely manner.”

Executive Documents

Executive Order No. 10501

Ex. Ord. No. 10501, Nov. 5, 1953, 18 F.R. 7049, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 10816, May 7, 1959, 24 F.R. 3777; Ex. Ord. No. 10901, Jan. 9, 1961, 26 F.R. 217; Ex. Ord. No. 10964, Sept. 20, 1961, 26 F.R. 8932; Ex. Ord. No. 10985, Jan. 12, 1962, 27 F.R. 439; Ex. Ord. No. 11097, Feb. 28, 1963, 28 F.R. 2225; Ex. Ord. No. 11382, Nov. 28, 1967, 32 F.R. 16247, which related to safeguarding official information, was superseded by Ex. Ord. No. 11652, Mar. 8, 1972, 37 F.R. 5209, formerly set out below.

Ex. Ord. No. 10865. Safeguarding Classified Information Within Industry

Ex. Ord. No. 10865, Feb. 20, 1960, 25 F.R. 1583, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 10909, Jan. 17, 1961, 26 F.R. 508; Ex. Ord. No. 11382, Nov. 28, 1967, 32 F.R. 16247; Ex. Ord. No. 12829, § 203(g), Jan. 6, 1993, 58 F.R. 3479; Ex. Ord. No. 13284, § 15, Jan. 23, 2003, 68 F.R. 4076, provided:

WHEREAS it is mandatory that the United States protect itself against hostile or destructive activities by preventing unauthorized disclosures of classified information relating to the national defense; and

WHEREAS it is a fundamental principle of our Government to protect the interests of individuals against unreasonable or unwarranted encroachment; and

WHEREAS I find that the provisions and procedures prescribed by this order are necessary to assure the preservation of the integrity of classified defense information and to protect the national interest; and

WHEREAS I find that those provisions and procedures recognize the interest of individuals affected thereby and provide maximum possible safeguards to protect such interests:

NOW, THEREFORE, under and by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and statutes of the United States, and as President of the United States and as Commander in Chief of the armed forces of the United States, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. When used in this order, the term “head of a department” means the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and, in section 4, the Attorney General. The term “head of a department” also means the head of any department or agency, including but not limited to those referenced above with whom the Department of Defense makes an agreement to extend regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense concerning authorizations for access to classified information pursuant to Executive Order No. 12829 [set out below].

Sec. 2. An authorization for access to classified information pursuant to Executive Order No. 12829 [set out below] may be granted by the head of a department or his designee, including but not limited to, those officials named in section 8 of this order, to an individual, hereinafter termed an “applicant”, for a specific classification category only upon a finding that it is clearly consistent with the national interest to do so.

Sec. 3. Except as provided in section 9 of this order, an authorization for access to a specific classification category may not be finally denied or revoked pursuant to Executive Order No. 12829 [set out below] by the head of a department or his designee, including, but not limited to, those officials named in section 8 of this order, unless the applicant has been given the following:

(1) A written statement of the reasons why his access authorization may be denied or revoked, which shall be as comprehensive and detailed as the national security permits.

(2) A reasonable opportunity to reply in writing under oath or affirmation to the statement of reasons.

(3) After he has filed under oath or affirmation a written reply to the statement of reasons, the form and sufficiency of which may be prescribed by regulations issued by the head of the department concerned, an opportunity to appear personally before the head of the department concerned or his designee including, but not limited to, those officials named in section 8 of this order for the purpose of supporting his eligibility for access authorization and to present evidence on his behalf.

(4) A reasonable time to prepare for that appearance.

(5) An opportunity to be represented by counsel.

(6) An opportunity to cross-examine persons either orally or through written interrogatories in accordance with section 4 on matters not relating to the characterization in the statement of reasons of any organization or individual other than the applicant.

(7) A written notice of the final decision in his case which, if adverse, shall specify whether the head of the department or his designee, including, but not limited to, those officials named in section 8 of this order, found for or against him with respect to each allegation in the statement of reasons.

Sec. 4. (a) An applicant shall be afforded an opportunity to cross-examine persons who have made oral or written statements adverse to the applicant relating to a controverted issue except that any such statement may be received and considered without affording such opportunity in the circumstances described in either of the following paragraphs:

(1) The head of the department supplying the statement certifies that the person who furnished the information is a confidential informant who has been engaged in obtaining intelligence information for the Government and that disclosure of his identity would be substantially harmful to the national interest.

(2) The head of the department concerned or his special designee for that particular purpose has preliminarily determined, after considering information furnished by the investigative agency involved as to the reliability of the person and the accuracy of the statement concerned, that the statement concerned appears to be reliable and material, and the head of the department or such special designee has determined that failure to receive and consider such statement would, in view of the level of access sought, be substantially harmful to the national security and that the person who furnished the information cannot appear to testify (A) due to death, severe illness, or similar cause, in which case the identity of the person and the information to be considered shall be made available to the applicant, or (B) due to some other cause determined by the head of the department to be good and sufficient.

(b) Whenever procedures under paragraphs (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of this section are used (1) the applicant shall be given a summary of the information which shall be as comprehensive and detailed as the national security permits, (2) appropriate consideration shall be accorded to the fact that the applicant did not have an opportunity to cross-examine such person or persons, and (3) a final determination adverse to the applicant shall be made only by the head of the department based upon his personal review of the case.

Sec. 5. (a) Records compiled in the regular course of business, or other physical evidence other than investigative reports, may be received and considered subject to rebuttal without authenticating witnesses, provided that such information has been furnished to the department concerned by an investigative agency pursuant to its responsibilities in connection with assisting the head of the department concerned to safeguard classified information within industry pursuant to this order.

(b) Records compiled in the regular course of business, or other physical evidence other than investigative reports, relating to a controverted issue which, because they are classified, may not be inspected by the applicant, may be received and considered provided that: (1) the head of the department concerned or his special designee for that purpose has made a preliminary determination that such physical evidence appears to be material, (2) the head of the department concerned or such designee has made a determination that failure to receive and consider such physical evidence would, in view of the level of access sought, be substantially harmful to the national security, and (3) to the extent that the national security permits, a summary or description of such physical evidence is made available to the applicant. In every such case, information as to the authenticity and accuracy of such physical evidence furnished by the investigative agency involved shall be considered. In such instances a final determination adverse to the applicant shall be made only by the head of the department based upon his personal review of the case.

Sec. 6. The head of a department of the United States or his representative, may issue, in appropriate cases, invitations and requests to appear and testify in order that the applicant may have the opportunity to cross-examine as provided by this order. Whenever a witness is so invited or requested to appear and testify at a proceeding and the witness is an officer or employee of the executive branch of the Government or a member of the armed forces of the United States, and the proceeding involves the activity in connection with which the witness is employed, travel expenses and per diem are authorized as provided by the Standardized Government Travel Regulations or the Joint Travel Regulations, as appropriate. In all other cases (including non-Government employees as well as officers or employees of the executive branch of the Government or members of the armed forces of the United States not covered by the foregoing sentence), transportation in kind and reimbursement for actual expenses are authorized in an amount not to exceed the amount payable under Standardized Government Travel Regulations. An officer or employee of the executive branch of the Government or a member of the armed forces of the United States who is invited or requested to appear pursuant to this paragraph shall be deemed to be in the performance of his official duties. So far as the national security permits, the head of the investigative agency involved shall cooperate with the Secretary, the Administrator, or the head of the other department or agency, as the case may be, in identifying persons who have made statements adverse to the applicant and in assisting him in making them available for cross-examination. If a person so invited is an officer or employee of the executive branch of the government or a member of the armed forces of the United States, the head of the department or agency concerned shall cooperate in making that person available for cross-examination.

Sec. 7. Any determination under this order adverse to an applicant shall be a determination in terms of the national interest and shall in no sense be a determination as to the loyalty of the applicant concerned.

Sec. 8. Except as otherwise specified in the preceding provisions of this order, any authority vested in the head of a department by this order may be delegated to the the [sic] deputy of that department, or the principal assistant to the head of that department, as the case may be.

Sec. 9. Nothing contained in this order shall be deemed to limit or affect the responsibility and powers of the head of a department to deny or revoke access to a specific classification category if the security of the nation so requires. Such authority may not be delegated and may be exercised only when the head of a department determines that the procedures prescribed in sections 3, 4, and 5 cannot be invoked consistently with the national security and such determination shall be conclusive.

Modification of Executive Order No. 10865

Ex. Ord. No. 10865, Feb. 20, 1960, 25 F.R. 1583, as amended, set out above, when referring to functions of the Atomic Energy Commission is modified to provide that all such functions shall be exercised by the Secretary of Energy and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, see section 4(a)(1) of Ex. Ord. No. 12038, Feb. 3, 1978, 43 F.R. 4957, set out under section 7151 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.

Executive Order No. 10985

Ex. Ord. No. 10985, Jan. 12, 1962, 27 F.R. 439, which amended Executive Order No. 10501, which related to safeguarding official information, was superseded by Ex. Ord. No. 11652, Mar. 8, 1972, 37 F.R. 5209, formerly set out below.

Executive Order No. 11097

Ex. Ord. No. 11097, Feb. 28, 1963, 28 F.R. 2225, which amended Executive Order No. 10501, which related to safeguarding official information, was superseded by Ex. Ord. No. 11652, Mar. 8, 1972, 37 F.R. 5209, formerly set out below.

Executive Order No. 11652

Ex. Ord. No. 11652, Mar. 8, 1972, 37 F.R. 5209, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 11714, Apr. 24, 1973, 38 F.R. 10245; Ex. Ord. No. 11862, June 11, 1975, 40 F.R. 25197; Ex. Ord. No. 12038, Feb. 3, 1978, 43 F.R. 4957, which related to the classification and declassification of national security information and material, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 12065, June 28, 1978, 43 F.R. 28949, formerly set out below.

Ex. Ord. No. 11932. Classification of Certain Information and Material Obtained From Advisory Bodies Created To Implement the International Energy Program

Ex. Ord. No. 11932, Aug. 4, 1976, 41 F.R. 32691, provided:

The United States has entered into the Agreement on an International Energy Program of November 18, 1974, which created the International Energy Agency. This program is a substantial factor in the conduct of our foreign relations and an important element of our national security. The effectiveness of the Agreement depends significantly upon the provision and exchange of information and material by participants in advisory bodies created by the International Energy Agency. Confidentiality is essential to assure the free and open discussion necessary to accomplish the tasks assigned to those bodies. I have consulted with the Secretary of State, the Attorney General and the Administrator of the Federal Energy Administration concerning the handling and safeguarding of information and material in the possession of the United States which has been obtained pursuant to the program, and I find that some of such information and material requires protection as provided in Executive Order No. 11652 of March 8, 1972, as amended [formerly set out above].

NOW, THEREFORE, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and statutes of the United States, and as President of the United States, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Information and material obtained pursuant to the International Energy Program and which requires protection against unauthorized disclosure in the interest of the national defense or foreign relations of the United States shall be classified pursuant to Executive Order No. 11652 of March 8, 1972, as amended [formerly set out above]. The Secretary of State shall have the responsibility for the classification, declassification and safeguarding of information and material in the possession of the United States Government which has been obtained pursuant to:

(a) Section 252(c)(3), (d)(2), or (e)(3) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (89 Stat. 871; 42 U.S.C. 6272(c)(3), (d)(2), (e)(3)), or

(b) The Voluntary Agreement and Program relating to the International Energy Program (40 F.R. 16041, April 8, 1975), or

(c) Any similar Voluntary Agreement and Program entered into under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act [42 U.S.C. 6201 et seq.] after the date of this Order.

Sec. 2. Information or material classified pursuant to Section 1 of this Order may be exempted from the General Declassification Schedule established by Section 5 of Executive Order No. 11652 [formerly set out above] if it was obtained by the United States on the understanding that it be kept in confidence, or if it might otherwise be exempted under Section 5(B) of such Order.

Sec. 3. (a) Within 60 days of the date of this Order, the Secretary of State shall promulgate regulations which implement his responsibilities under this Order.

(b) The directives issued under Section 6 of Executive Order No. 11652 [formerly set out above] shall not apply to information and material classified under this Order. However, the regulations promulgated by the Secretary of State shall:

(1) conform, to the extent practicable, to the policies set forth in Section 6 of Executive Order No. 11652 [formerly set out above], and

(2) provide that he may take such measures as he deems necessary and appropriate to ensure the confidentiality of any information and material classified under this Order that may remain in the custody or control of any person outside the United States Government.

Executive Order No. 12065

Ex. Ord. No. 12065, June 28, 1978, 43 F.R. 28949, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 12148, July 20, 1979, 44 F.R. 43239; Ex. Ord. No. 12163, Sept. 29, 1979, 44 F.R. 56673, which related to classification and declassification of national security information and material, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 12356, Apr. 2, 1982, 47 F.R. 14874, 15557, formerly set out below.

Executive Order No. 12356

Ex. Ord. No. 12356, Apr. 2, 1982, 47 F.R. 14874, 15557, which prescribed a uniform system for classifying, declassifying, and safeguarding national security information, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 12958, § 6.1(d), Apr. 17, 1995, 60 F.R. 19843, formerly set out below.

Ex. Ord. No. 12812. Declassification and Release of Materials Pertaining to Prisoners of War and Missing in Action

Ex. Ord. No. 12812, July 22, 1992, 57 F.R. 32879, provided:

WHEREAS, the Senate, by S. Res. 324 of July 2, 1992, has asked that I “expeditiously issue an Executive order requiring all executive branch departments and agencies to declassify and publicly release without compromising United States national security all documents, files, and other materials pertaining to POWs and MIAs;” and

WHEREAS, indiscriminate release of classified material could jeopardize continuing United States Government efforts to achieve the fullest possible accounting of Vietnam-era POWs and MIAs; and

WHEREAS, I have concluded that the public interest would be served by the declassification and public release of materials pertaining to Vietnam-era POWs and MIAs as provided below;

NOW, THEREFORE, by the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order as follows:

Section 1. All executive departments and agencies shall expeditiously review all documents, files, and other materials pertaining to American POWs and MIAs lost in Southeast Asia for the purposes of declassification in accordance with the standards and procedures of Executive Order No. 12356 [formerly set out above].

Sec. 2. All executive departments and agencies shall make publicly available documents, files, and other materials declassified pursuant to section 1, except for those the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy of returnees, family members of POWs and MIAs, or other persons, or would impair the deliberative processes of the executive branch.

Sec. 3. This order is not intended to create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable by a party against the United States, its agencies or instrumentalities, its officers or employees, or any other person.

Ex. Ord. No. 12829. National Industrial Security Program

Ex. Ord. No. 12829, Jan. 6, 1993, 58 F.R. 3479, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 12885, Dec. 14, 1993, 58 F.R. 65863; Ex. Ord. No. 13691, § 6, Feb. 13, 2015, 80 F.R. 9351; Ex. Ord. No. 13708, § 4, Sept. 30, 2015, 80 F.R. 60273, provided:

This order establishes a National Industrial Security Program to safeguard Federal Government classified information that is released to contractors, licensees, and grantees of the United States Government. To promote our national interests, the United States Government issues contracts, licenses, and grants to nongovernment organizations. When these arrangements require access to classified information, the national security requires that this information be safeguarded in a manner equivalent to its protection within the executive branch of Government. The national security also requires that our industrial security program promote the economic and technological interests of the United States. Redundant, overlapping, or unnecessary requirements impede those interests. Therefore, the National Industrial Security Program shall serve as a single, integrated, cohesive industrial security program to protect classified information and to preserve our Nation’s economic and technological interests.

Therefore, by the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2011–2286) [42 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.], the National Security Act of 1947, as amended (codified as amended in scattered sections of the United States Code) [50 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.], the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 [Pub. L. 108–458, see Tables for classification], and the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended ([former] 5 U.S.C. App. 2) [see 5 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.], it is hereby ordered as follows:

PART 1. ESTABLISHMENT AND POLICY

Section 101. Establishment. (a) There is established a National Industrial Security Program. The purpose of this program is to safeguard classified information that may be released or has been released to current, prospective, or former contractors, licensees, or grantees of United States agencies. For the purposes of this order, the terms “contractor, licensee, or grantee” means current, prospective, or former contractors, licensees, or grantees of United States agencies. The National Industrial Security Program shall be applicable to all executive branch departments and agencies.

(b) The National Industrial Security Program shall provide for the protection of information classified pursuant to Executive Order 13526 of December 29, 2009 [set out below], or any predecessor or successor order, and the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.).

(c) For the purposes of this order, the term “contractor” does not include individuals engaged under personal services contracts.

Sec. 102. Policy Direction. (a) The National Security Council shall provide overall policy direction for the National Industrial Security Program.

(b) In consultation with the National Security Advisor, the Director of the Information Security Oversight Office, in accordance with Executive Order 13526 of December 29, 2009, shall be responsible for implementing and monitoring the National Industrial Security Program and shall:

(1) develop, in consultation with the agencies, and promulgate subject to the approval of the National Security Council, directives for the implementation of this order, which shall be binding on the agencies;

(2) oversee agency, contractor, licensee, and grantee actions to ensure compliance with this order and implementing directives;

(3) review all agency implementing regulations, internal rules, or guidelines. The Director shall require any regulation, rule, or guideline to be changed if it is not consistent with this order or implementing directives. Any such decision by the Director may be appealed to the National Security Council. The agency regulation, rule, or guideline shall remain in effect pending a prompt decision on the appeal;

(4) have the authority, pursuant to terms of applicable contracts, licenses, grants, or regulations, to conduct on-site reviews of the implementation of the National Industrial Security Program by each agency, contractor, licensee, and grantee that has access to or stores classified information and to require of each agency, contractor, licensee, and grantee those reports, information, and other cooperation that may be necessary to fulfill the Director’s responsibilities. If these reports, inspections, or access to specific classified information, or other forms of cooperation, would pose an exceptional national security risk, the affected agency head or the senior official designated under section 203(a) of this order may request the National Security Council to deny access to the Director. The Director shall not have access pending a prompt decision by the National Security Council;

(5) report any violations of this order or its implementing directives to the head of the agency or to the senior official designated under section 203(a) of this order so that corrective action, if appropriate, may be taken. Any such report pertaining to the implementation of the National Industrial Security Program by a contractor, licensee, or grantee shall be directed to the agency that is exercising operational oversight over the contractor, licensee, or grantee under section 202 of this order;

(6) consider and take action on complaints and suggestions from persons within or outside the Government with respect to the administration of the National Industrial Security Program;

(7) consider, in consultation with the advisory committee established by this order, affected agencies, contractors, licensees, and grantees, and recommend to the President through the National Security Council changes to this order; and

(8) report at least annually to the President through the National Security Council on the implementation of the National Industrial Security Program.

(c) Nothing in this order shall be construed to supersede the authority of the Secretary of Energy or the Nuclear Regulatory Commission under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), or the authority of the Director of National Intelligence (or any Intelligence Community element) under the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 [Pub. L. 108–458, see Tables for classification], the National Security Act of 1947, as amended [50 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.], or Executive Order 12333 of December 8, 1981 [50 U.S.C. 3001 note], as amended, or the authority of the Secretary of Homeland Security, as the Executive Agent for the Classified National Security Information Program established under Executive Order 13549 of August 18, 2010 (Classified National Security Information Program for State, Local, Tribal, and Private Sector Entities) [set out below].

Sec. 103. National Industrial Security Program Policy Advisory Committee. (a) Establishment. There is established the National Industrial Security Program Policy Advisory Committee (“Committee”). The Director of the Information Security Oversight Office shall serve as Chairman of the Committee and appoint the members of the Committee. The members of the Committee shall be the representatives of those departments and agencies most affected by the National Industrial Security Program and nongovernment representatives of contractors, licensees, or grantees involved with classified contracts, licenses, or grants, as determined by the Chairman.

(b) Functions. (1) The Committee members shall advise the Chairman of the Committee on all matters concerning the policies of the National Industrial Security Program, including recommended changes to those policies as reflected in this order, its implementing directives, or the operating manual established under this order, and serve as a forum to discuss policy issues in dispute.

(2) The Committee shall meet at the request of the Chairman, but at least twice during the calendar year.

(c) Administration. (1) Members of the Committee shall serve without compensation for their work on the Committee. However, nongovernment members may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by law for persons serving intermittently in the Government service (5 U.S.C. 5701–5707).

(2) To the extent permitted by law and subject to the availability of funds, the National Archives and Records Administration shall provide the Committee with administrative services, facilities, staff, and other support services necessary for the performance of its functions.

(d) General. Notwithstanding any other Executive order, the functions of the President under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended [see 5 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.], except that of reporting to the Congress, which are applicable to the Committee, shall be performed by the the [sic] Archivist of the United States in accordance with the guidelines and procedures established by the General Services Administration.

PART 2. OPERATIONS

Sec. 201. National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual. (a) The Secretary of Defense, in consultation with all affected agencies and with the concurrence of the Secretary of Energy, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Director of National Intelligence, and the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall issue and maintain a National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (Manual). The Secretary of Energy and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission shall prescribe and issue that portion of the Manual that pertains to information classified under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.). The Director of National Intelligence shall prescribe and issue that portion of the Manual that pertains to intelligence sources and methods, including Sensitive Compartmented Information. The Secretary of Homeland Security shall prescribe and issue that portion of the Manual that pertains to classified information shared under a designated critical infrastructure protection program.

(b) The Manual shall prescribe specific requirements, restrictions, and other safeguards that are necessary to preclude unauthorized disclosure and control authorized disclosure of classified information to contractors, licensees, or grantees. The Manual shall apply to the release of classified information during all phases of the contracting process including bidding, negotiation, award, performance, and termination of contracts, the licensing process, or the grant process, with or under the control of departments or agencies.

(c) The Manual shall also prescribe requirements, restrictions, and other safeguards that are necessary to protect special classes of classified information, including Restricted Data, Formerly Restricted Data, intelligence sources and methods information, Sensitive Compartmented Information, and Special Access Program information.

(d) The Manual shall also prescribe arrangements necessary to permit and enable secure sharing of classified information under a designated critical infrastructure protection program to such authorized individuals and organizations as determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security.

(e) In establishing particular requirements, restrictions, and other safeguards within the Manual, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Energy, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Director of National Intelligence, and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall take into account these factors: (i) the damage to the national security that reasonably could be expected to result from an unauthorized disclosure; (ii) the existing or anticipated threat to the disclosure of information; and (iii) the short- and long-term costs of the requirements, restrictions, and other safeguards.

(f) To the extent that is practicable and reasonable, the requirements, restrictions, and safeguards that the Manual establishes for the protection of classified information by contractors, licensees, and grantees shall be consistent with the requirements, restrictions, and safeguards that directives implementing Executive Order 13526 of December 29, 2009 [set out below], or any successor order, or the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, establish for the protection of classified information by agencies. Upon request by the Chairman of the Committee, the Secretary of Defense shall provide an explanation and justification for any requirement, restriction, or safeguard that results in a standard for the protection of classified information by contractors, licensees, and grantees that differs from the standard that applies to agencies.

Sec. 202. Operational Oversight. (a) The Secretary of Defense shall serve as Executive Agent for inspecting and monitoring the contractors, licensees, and grantees who require or will require access to, or who store or will store classified information; and for determining the eligibility for access to classified information of contractors, licensees, and grantees and their respective employees. The heads of agencies shall enter into agreements with the Secretary of Defense that establish the terms of the Secretary’s responsibilities on behalf of these agency heads.

(b) The Director of National Intelligence retains authority over access to intelligence sources and methods, including Sensitive Compartmented Information. The Director of National Intelligence may inspect and monitor contractor, licensee, and grantee programs and facilities that involve access to such information or may enter into written agreements with the Secretary of Defense, as Executive Agent, or with the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency to inspect and monitor these programs or facilities, in whole or in part, on the Director’s behalf.

(c) The Secretary of Energy and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission retain authority over access to information under their respective programs classified under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended [42 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.]. The Secretary or the Commission may inspect and monitor contractor, licensee, and grantee programs and facilities that involve access to such information or may enter into written agreements with the Secretary of Defense, as Executive Agent, to inspect and monitor these programs or facilities, in whole or in part, on behalf of the Secretary or the Commission, respectively.

(d) The Secretary of Homeland Security may determine the eligibility for access to Classified National Security Information of contractors, licensees, and grantees and their respective employees under a designated critical infrastructure protection program, including parties to agreements with such program; the Secretary of Homeland Security may inspect and monitor contractor, licensee, and grantee programs and facilities or may enter into written agreements with the Secretary of Defense, as Executive Agent, or with the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, to inspect and monitor these programs or facilities in whole or in part, on behalf of the Secretary of Homeland Security.

(e) The Executive Agent shall have the authority to issue, after consultation with affected agencies, standard forms or other standardization that will promote the implementation of the National Industrial Security Program.

Sec. 203. Implementation. (a) The head of each agency that enters into classified contracts, licenses, or grants shall designate a senior agency official to direct and administer the agency’s implementation and compliance with the National Industrial Security Program.

(b) Agency implementing regulations, internal rules, or guidelines shall be consistent with this order, its implementing directives, and the Manual. Agencies shall issue these regulations, rules, or guidelines no later than 180 days from the issuance of the Manual. They may incorporate all or portions of the Manual by reference.

(c) Each agency head or the senior official designated under paragraph (a) above shall take appropriate and prompt corrective action whenever a violation of this order, its implementing directives, or the Manual occurs.

(d) The senior agency official designated under paragraph (a) above shall account each year for the costs within the agency associated with the implementation of the National Industrial Security Program. These costs shall be reported to the Director of the Information Security Oversight Office, who shall include them in the reports to the President prescribed by this order.

(e) The Secretary of Defense, with the concurrence of the Administrator of General Services, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and such other agency heads or officials who may be responsible, shall amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation to be consistent with the implementation of the National Industrial Security Program.

(f) All contracts, licenses, or grants that involve access to classified information and that are advertised or proposed following the issuance of agency regulations, rules, or guidelines described in paragraph (b) above shall comply with the National Industrial Security Program. To the extent that is feasible, economical, and permitted by law, agencies shall amend, modify, or convert preexisting contracts, licenses, or grants, or previously advertised or proposed contracts, licenses, or grants, that involve access to classified information for operation under the National Industrial Security Program. Any direct inspection or monitoring of contractors, licensees, or grantees specified by this order shall be carried out pursuant to the terms of a contract, license, grant, or regulation.

(g) [Amended Ex. Ord. No. 10865, set out above.]

(h) All delegations, rules, regulations, orders, directives, agreements, contracts, licenses, and grants issued under preexisting authorities, including section 1(a) and (b) of Executive Order No. 10865 of February 20, 1960, as amended, by Executive Order No. 10909 of January 17, 1961, and Executive Order No. 11382 of November 27, 1967, shall remain in full force and effect until amended, modified, or terminated pursuant to authority of this order.

(i) This order shall be effective immediately.

Extension of Term of National Industrial Security Program Policy Advisory Committee

Term of National Industrial Security Program Policy Advisory Committee extended until Sept. 30, 2025, by Ex. Ord. No. 14109, Sept. 29, 2023, 88 F.R. 68447, set out as a note under section 1013 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

Previous extensions of term of National Industrial Security Program Policy Advisory Committee were contained in the following prior Executive Orders:

Ex. Ord. No. 14048, Sept. 30, 2021, 86 F.R. 55465, extended term until Sept. 30, 2023.

Ex. Ord. No. 13889, Sept. 27, 2019, 84 F.R. 52743, extended term until Sept. 30, 2021.

Ex. Ord. No. 13811, Sept. 29, 2017, 82 F.R. 46363, extended term until Sept. 30, 2019.

Ex. Ord. No. 13708, Sept. 30, 2015, 80 F.R. 60271, extended term until Sept. 30, 2017.

Ex. Ord. No. 13652, Sept. 30, 2013, 78 F.R. 61817, extended term until Sept. 30, 2015.

Ex. Ord. No. 13585, Sept. 30, 2011, 76 F.R. 62281, extended term until Sept. 30, 2013.

Ex. Ord. No. 12937. Declassification of Selected Records Within National Archives of United States

Ex. Ord. No. 12937, Nov. 10, 1994, 59 F.R. 59097, provided:

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:

Section 1. The records in the National Archives of the United States referenced in the list accompanying this order are hereby declassified.

Sec. 2. The Archivist of the United States shall take such actions as are necessary to make such records available for public research no later than 30 days from the date of this Order, except to the extent that the head of an affected agency and the Archivist have determined that specific information within such records must be protected from disclosure pursuant to an authorized exemption to the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552, other than the exemption that pertains to national security information.

Sec. 3. Nothing contained in this order shall create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable by any party against the United States, its agencies or instrumentalities, its officers or employees, or any other person.

Records in the following record groups (“RG”) in the National Archives of the United States shall be declassified. Page numbers are approximate. A complete list of the selected records is available from the Archivist of the United States.

I. All unreviewed World War II and earlier records, including:
A.	RG 18, Army Air Forces	1,722,400 pp.
B.	RG 65, Federal Bureau of Investigation	362,500 pp.
C.	RG 127, United States Marine Corps	195,000 pp.
D.	RG 216, Office of Censorship	112,500 pp.
E.	RG 226, Office of Strategic Services	415,000 pp.
F.	RG 60, United States Occupation Headquarters	4,422,500 pp.
G.	RG 331, Allied Operational and Occupation Headquarters, World War II (including 350 reels of Allied Force Headquarters)	3,097,500 pp.
H.	RG 332, United States Theaters of War, World War II	1,182,500 pp.
I.	RG 338, Mediterranean Theater of Operations and European Command	9,500,000 pp.
	Subtotal for World War II and earlier	21.0 million pp.
II. Post-1945 Collections (Military and Civil)
A.	RG 19, Bureau of Ships, Pre-1950 General Correspondence (selected records)	1,732,500 pp.
B.	RG 51, Bureau of the Budget, 52.12 Budget Preparation Branch, 1952–69	142,500 pp.
C.	RG 72, Bureau of Aeronautics (Navy) (selected records)	5,655,000 pp.
D.	RG 166, Foreign Agricultural Service, Narrative Reports, 1955–61	1,272,500 pp.
E.	RG 313, Naval Operating Forces (selected records)	407,500 pp.
F.	RG 319, Office of the Chief of Military History
	Manuscripts and Background Papers (selected records)	933,000 pp.
G.	RG 337, Headquarters, Army Ground Forces (selected records)	1,269,700 pp.
H.	RG 341, Headquarters, United States Air Force (selected records)	4,870,000 pp.
I.	RG 389, Office of the Provost Marshal General (selected records)	448,000 pp.
J.	RG 391, United States Army Regular Army Mobil Units	240,000 pp.
K.	RG 428, General Records of the Department of the Navy (selected records)	31,250 pp.
L.	RG 472, Army Vietnam Collection (selected records)	5,864,000 pp.
	Subtotal for Other	22.9 million pp.
	TOTAL	43.9 million pp.

Ex. Ord. No. 12951. Release of Imagery Acquired by Space-Based National Intelligence Reconnaissance Systems

Ex. Ord. No. 12951, Feb. 22, 1995, 60 F.R. 10789, provided:

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America and in order to release certain scientifically or environmentally useful imagery acquired by space-based national intelligence reconnaissance systems, consistent with the national security, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Public Release of Historical Intelligence Imagery. Imagery acquired by the space-based national intelligence reconnaissance systems known as the Corona, Argon, and Lanyard missions shall, within 18 months of the date of this order, be declassified and transferred to the National Archives and Records Administration with a copy sent to the United States Geological Survey of the Department of the Interior consistent with procedures approved by the Director of Central Intelligence and the Archivist of the United States. Upon transfer, such imagery shall be deemed declassified and shall be made available to the public.

Sec. 2. Review for Future Public Release of Intelligence Imagery. (a) All information that meets the criteria in section 2(b) of this order shall be kept secret in the interests of national defense and foreign policy until deemed otherwise by the Director of Central Intelligence. In consultation with the Secretaries of State and Defense, the Director of Central Intelligence shall establish a comprehensive program for the periodic review of imagery from systems other than the Corona, Argon, and Lanyard missions, with the objective of making available to the public as much imagery as possible consistent with the interests of national defense and foreign policy. For imagery from obsolete broad-area film-return systems other than Corona, Argon, and Lanyard missions, this review shall be completed within 5 years of the date of this order. Review of imagery from any other system that the Director of Central Intelligence deems to be obsolete shall be accomplished according to a timetable established by the Director of Central Intelligence. The Director of Central Intelligence shall report annually to the President on the implementation of this order.

(b) The criteria referred to in section 2(a) of this order consist of the following: imagery acquired by a space-based national intelligence reconnaissance system other than the Corona, Argon, and Lanyard missions.

Sec. 3. General Provisions. (a) This order prescribes a comprehensive and exclusive system for the public release of imagery acquired by space-based national intelligence reconnaissance systems. This order is the exclusive Executive order governing the public release of imagery for purposes of section 552(b)(1) of the Freedom of Information Act [5 U.S.C. 552(b)(1)].

(b) Nothing contained in this order shall create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable by any party against the United States, its agencies or instrumentalities, its officers or employees, or any other person.

Sec. 4. Definition. As used herein, “imagery” means the product acquired by space-based national intelligence reconnaissance systems that provides a likeness or representation of any natural or man-made feature or related objective or activities and satellite positional data acquired at the same time the likeness or representation was acquired.

Executive Order No. 12958

Ex. Ord. No. 12958, Apr. 17, 1995, 60 F.R. 19825, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 12972, Sept. 18, 1995, 60 F.R. 48863; Ex. Ord. No. 13142, Nov. 19, 1999, 64 F.R. 66089; Ex. Ord. No. 13292, Mar. 25, 2003, 68 F.R. 15315, which related to classified national security information, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 13526, § 6.2(g), Dec. 29, 2009, 75 F.R. 731, set out below.

Ex. Ord. No. 12968. Access to Classified Information

Ex. Ord. No. 12968, Aug. 2, 1995, 60 F.R. 40245, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 13467, § 3(b), June 30, 2008, 73 F.R. 38107; Ex. Ord. No. 13764, § 3(v), Jan. 17, 2017, 82 F.R. 8128, provided:

The national interest requires that certain information be maintained in confidence through a system of classification in order to protect our citizens, our democratic institutions, and our participation within the community of nations. The unauthorized disclosure of information classified in the national interest can cause irreparable damage to the national security and loss of human life.

Security policies designed to protect classified information must ensure consistent, cost effective, and efficient protection of our Nation’s classified information, while providing fair and equitable treatment to those Americans upon whom we rely to guard our national security.

This order establishes a uniform Federal personnel security program for employees who will be considered for initial or continued access to classified information.

NOW, THEREFORE, by the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:

PART 1—DEFINITIONS, ACCESS TO CLASSIFIED INFORMATION, FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE, AND OTHER ITEMS

Section 1.1. Definitions. For the purposes of this order: (a) “Agency” means any “Executive agency,” as defined in 5 U.S.C. 105, the “military departments,” as defined in 5 U.S.C. 102, and any other entity within the executive branch that comes into the possession of classified information, including the Defense Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency, and the National Reconnaissance Office.

(b) “Applicant” means a person other than an employee who has received an authorized conditional offer of employment for a position that requires access to classified information.

(c) “Authorized investigative agency” means an agency authorized by law or regulation to conduct a counterintelligence investigation or investigation of persons who are proposed for access to classified information to ascertain whether such persons satisfy the criteria for obtaining and retaining access to such information.

(d) “Classified information” means information that has been determined pursuant to Executive Order No. 12958 [formerly set out above], or any successor order, Executive Order No. 12951 [set out above], or any successor order, or the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2011 [et seq.]), to require protection against unauthorized disclosure.

(e) “Employee” means a person, other than the President and Vice President, employed by, detailed or assigned to, an agency, including members of the Armed Forces; an expert or consultant to an agency; an industrial or commercial contractor, licensee, certificate holder, or grantee of an agency, including all subcontractors; a personal services contractor; or any other category of person who acts for or on behalf of an agency as determined by the appropriate agency head.

(f) “Foreign power” and “agent of a foreign power” have the meaning provided in 50 U.S.C. 1801.

(g) “Need for access” means a determination that an employee requires access to a particular level of classified information in order to perform or assist in a lawful and authorized governmental function.

(h) “Need-to-know” means a determination made by an authorized holder of classified information that a prospective recipient requires access to specific classified information in order to perform or assist in a lawful and authorized governmental function.

(i) “Overseas Security Executive Agent” means the Board established by the President to consider, develop, coordinate and promote policies, standards and agreements on overseas security operations, programs and projects that affect all United States Government agencies under the authority of a Chief of Mission.

(j) “Security Executive Agent” means the Security Executive Agent established by the President to consider, coordinate, and recommend policy directives for U.S. security policies, procedures, and practices.

(k) “Special access program” has the meaning provided in section 4.1 of Executive Order No. 12958 [formerly set out above], or any successor order.

Sec. 1.2. Access to Classified Information. (a) No employee shall be granted access to classified information unless that employee has been determined to be eligible in accordance with this order and to possess a need-to-know.

(b) Agency heads shall be responsible for establishing and maintaining an effective program to ensure that access to classified information by each employee is clearly consistent with the interests of the national security.

(c) Employees shall not be granted access to classified information unless they:

(1) have been determined to be eligible for access under section 3.1 of this order by agency heads or designated officials based upon a favorable adjudication of an appropriate investigation of the employee’s background;

(2) have a demonstrated need-to-know; and

(3) have signed an approved nondisclosure agreement.

(d) All employees shall be subject to investigation by an appropriate government authority prior to being granted access to classified information and at any time during the period of access to ascertain whether they continue to meet the requirements for access.

(e)(1) All employees granted access to classified information shall be required as a condition of such access to provide to the employing agency written consent permitting access by an authorized investigative agency, for such time as access to classified information is maintained and for a period of 3 years thereafter, to:

(A) relevant financial records that are maintained by a financial institution as defined in 31 U.S.C. 5312(a) or by a holding company as defined in section 1101(6) of the Right to Financial Privacy Act of 1978 (12 U.S.C. 3401[(6)]);

(B) consumer reports pertaining to the employee under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681a [1681 et seq.]); and

(C) records maintained by commercial entities within the United States pertaining to any travel by the employee outside the United States.

(2) Information may be requested pursuant to employee consent under this section where:

(A) there are reasonable grounds to believe, based on credible information, that the employee or former employee is, or may be, disclosing classified information in an unauthorized manner to a foreign power or agent of a foreign power;

(B) information the employing agency deems credible indicates the employee or former employee has incurred excessive indebtedness or has acquired a level of affluence that cannot be explained by other information; or

(C) circumstances indicate the employee or former employee had the capability and opportunity to disclose classified information that is known to have been lost or compromised to a foreign power or an agent of a foreign power.

(3) Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the authority of an investigating agency to obtain information pursuant to the Right to Financial Privacy Act [of 1978, 12 U.S.C. 3401 et seq.], the Fair Credit Reporting Act [15 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.] or any other applicable law.

Sec. 1.3. Financial Disclosure. (a) Not later than 180 days after the effective date of this order, the head of each agency that originates, handles, transmits, or possesses classified information shall designate each employee, by position or category where possible, who has a regular need for access to classified information that, in the discretion of the agency head, would reveal:

(1) the identity of covert agents as defined in the Intelligence Identities Protection Act of 1982 (50 U.S.C. 421 [sic] [et seq.]) [now 50 U.S.C. 3121 et seq.];

(2) technical or specialized national intelligence collection and processing systems that, if disclosed in an unauthorized manner, would substantially negate or impair the effectiveness of the system;

(3) the details of:

(A) the nature, contents, algorithm, preparation, or use of any code, cipher, or cryptographic system or;

(B) the design, construction, functioning, maintenance, or repair of any cryptographic equipment; but not including information concerning the use of cryptographic equipment and services;

(4) particularly sensitive special access programs, the disclosure of which would substantially negate or impair the effectiveness of the information or activity involved; or