Nazi War Criminal Records Interagency Working Group
Working Group Ordered to Release U.S. Nazi War Records
What it does
Agencies must locate, inventory, recommend declassification, and release classified Nazi war criminal records to the National Archives and report to Congress within one year.
Real-world impact
- Increases public access to classified Nazi war criminal records at the National Archives.
- Requires government agencies to review and recommend declassification of records.
- Creates new interagency review process supported by the National Archives for up to three years.
Topics
Summary
This order creates the Nazi War Criminal Records Interagency Working Group to find, list, recommend declassification of, and make publicly available classified U.S. records about Nazi war criminals at the National Archives, subject to legal exceptions.
The group will coordinate with government agencies, include senior officials and appointed members, and be chaired by the Archivist of the United States. It must report to Congress within one year, receive support from the National Archives, and will terminate three years after the order.
Questions, answered
Ask questions about this executive order and its implications. Try:
- “What agencies are affected by this order?”
- “How does this order change existing policy?”
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