Declassification of Selected Records Within the National Archives of the United States
Declassifies 43.9 Million Pages and Opens Archives for Research
What it does
The Archivist must make the listed National Archives records available for public research within 30 days, except for information jointly exempted under FOIA.
Real-world impact
- Declassifies about 43.9 million pages of archival records.
- Makes those records available for public research within 30 days.
- Allows agency heads and the Archivist to withhold specific information under certain FOIA exemptions.
Topics
Summary
This order declassifies selected records in the National Archives and directs the Archivist to make them available for public research.
It covers about 43.9 million pages across World War II and post-1945 collections, including military and civil record groups listed in the order. Agency heads and the Archivist may withhold specific information only under certain exemptions to the Freedom of Information Act, other than the exemption for national security.
The order also states it creates no enforceable legal rights or benefits against the United States.
Questions, answered
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