Original Classification

32 C.F.R. Part ..., Subpart B
in effectEffective: 2024-07-01

32 C.F.R. § 2103.11 Basic policy.

It is the policy of the National Security Council Staff to make available to the public as much information concerning its activities as is possible, consistent with its responsibility to protect the national security.

32 C.F.R. § 2103.12 Level of original classification.

Unnecessary classification, and classification at a level higher than is necessary, shall be avoided. If there is reasonable doubt as to which designation in section 1-1 of Executive Order 12065 is appropriate, or whether information should be classified at all, the less restrictive designation should be used, or the information should not be classified.

32 C.F.R. § 2103.13 Duration of original classification.

Original classification may be extended beyond six years only by officials with Top Secret classification authority. This extension authority shall be used only when these officials determine that the basis for original classification will continue throughout the entire period that the classification will be in effect and only for the following reasons: (a) The information is “foreign government information” as defined by the authorities in § 2301.1; (b) The information reveals intelligence sources and methods; (c) The information pertains to communication security; (d) The information reveals vulnerability or capability data, the unauthorized disclosure of which can reasonably be expected to render ineffective a system, installation, or project important to the national security; (e) The information concerns plans important to the national security, the unauthorized disclosure of which reasonably can be expected to nullify the effectiveness of the plan; (f) The information concerns specific foreign relations matters, the continued protection of which is essential to the national security; (g) Disclosure of the information would place a person's life in immediate jeopardy; or (h) The continued protection of the information is specifically required by statute.

32 C.F.R. § 2103.14 Challenges to classification.

If holders of classified information believe that the information is improperly or unnecessarily classified, or that original classification has been extended for too long a period, they should discuss the matter with their immediate superiors or the classifier of the information. If these discussions do not satisfy the concerns of the challenger, the matter should be brought to the attention of the chairperson of the NSC Information Security Oversight Committee (see § 2103.51 of this part).

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