Declassification Reviews of Certain Documents Concerning the Terrorist Attacks of September 11, 2001

The order directs the Attorney General and the heads of any other agencies that originated relevant records to conduct declassification reviews of four specific categories of 9/11-related documents on a rolling schedule. The first review covers a single FBI electronic communication dated April 4, 2016, due by September 11, 2021. Subsequent phases cover all classified records previously withheld in the civil litigation In re Terrorist Attacks on September 11, 2001 (60 days), PENTTBOM investigation records referencing subjects of a subfile investigation (120 days), and records from any other FBI investigation of those subjects related to foreign-government connections (180 days). Agencies must report results and justifications for any non-declassified material to the President and congressional intelligence committees after each phase, and publicly release all declassified material.

The order does not itself declassify any document; actual declassification depends on agency review determinations made under the standards of Executive Order 13526. Information may remain classified only if there is a reasonable expectation of damage to national security, and agencies are expressly prohibited from keeping records classified to conceal legal violations, inefficiency, or embarrassment. Non-classified portions must be disentangled from any classified material and released to the public to the extent practicable.

The Attorney General, FBI, and heads of other federal agencies that originated relevant 9/11 investigation records are directly directed to act. Survivors of the September 11 attacks, victims' families, and the general public stand to benefit from any resulting disclosures.

Families and survivors of the September 11 attacks have sought access to government investigation records for two decades. Depending on review outcomes, this order could result in public release of FBI records that were previously withheld in federal litigation, potentially shedding new light on the attacks and any foreign-government connections.

The order creates a four-phase review arc, with the Attorney General leading each phase in consultation with other originating agencies. After each phase, the AG must report results — including justifications for any withholdings — to the President through the National Security Advisor and to the congressional intelligence committees. All declassified material is then made publicly available, except for confidential executive-branch deliberations. Information that survives review must still be tested under EO 13526 standards, and non-classified portions must be separated and released. There is no enforcement mechanism specified for missed deadlines.