Fundamental Classification Guidance Review (FCGR)

The Fundamental Classification Guidance Review program was created by President Obama on December 29, 2009, under Executive Order 13526. All Federal agencies with significant classification programs had until July 2012 to review their classification guidance, and then provide summaries of their reviews to the Director of the Information Security Oversight Office.

The review serves as a guide and benchmark for Federal agencies to ensure proper classification of information vital to national security, while expediting declassification by avoiding over-classification and unnecessary withholding of records. Accurate and current classification guides also ensure standardized classification within and across Federal agencies. Overall, the review shows that Federal agencies are streamlining classification guidance and more clearly identifying categories of what can be released and what needs to remain classified.

The next FCGR is scheduled to be completed in 2017 and every 5 years thereafter.

(*Please note all files are in PDF format)