Whether it takes 100 days or 100 years, eventually classified information loses its potential to harm U.S. security interests. Sheryl Shenberger, Director of the National Declassification Center (NDC) at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), noted that the problem is deciding when that critical period is finally over.
“Currently we have a backlog of more than 400 million classified pages,” said Shenberger. “The center was established to streamline the process for declassification, so the Government can release more records to the public.”
On November 23, the center released a Prioritization Plan outlining how it intends to work through the backlog to meet a December 2013 deadline. Citizens will have a chance to weigh in on which records have the highest public interest via various social networking tools and the NDC blog.
“Cross-government cooperation is absolutely necessary to make the process work and meet the deadline,” noted Shenberger.
Demystifying Declassification
Classified documents are supposed to be automatically released after 25 years, unless Federal agencies decide to review and exempt them based on 1 of 9 categories. Until President Obama issued the Executive Order that created the NDC in 2009, however, there was limited consistency and standardization for much of the review of these 25-year-old (and older) materials, and little consideration had been given to prioritizing the declassification of documents based on public interest.
The center has collaborated with agencies across the Federal government to create a new baseline process, and will continue to fine-tune it as they work through the backlog. The emphasis on collaboration, standardization, and prioritization are keystones for the center.
Building a Better Database
Moving forward, NARA and the NDC are also working to improve their IT capabilities and reduce the risk of future backlogs. “We want to track each document from the minute it comes to us all the way through the reviewing process, and document all decisions made about sensitivity,” said Shenberger.
NARA keeps 1 to 3 percent of the Federal documents generated in any given year. The accumulation over time is staggering: to date, the agency has preserved about 9 billion pages of textual records, along with millions of maps, charts, architectural drawings, photographs, data sets, film reels, videotapes, and a rapidly growing number of electronic files that NARA is working to make accessible through the Electronic Records Archives program (ERA).
According to Shenberger, private contractors are eager to get involved with declassification and the digitization of records: “They are really working to supply ideas and make our efforts a success.”
