The Unveiling of JFK Files: A Look into Classification and Declassification
The administration of former President Donald Trump initiated the release of over 60,000 previously classified documents related to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy. This highly anticipated event brought forth a wealth of historical material, some of which had never before been accessible to the public. The National Archives, responsible for managing and preserving government records, began uploading the files to its website, a process expected to continue over several days.
Despite the sheer volume of documents, including scanned paper files, photographs, and audio recordings, historians have yet to uncover any groundbreaking revelations that would fundamentally alter the accepted understanding of the Kennedy assassination. Experts are still diligently reviewing the released materials, but so far, no definitive evidence has emerged to support widespread conspiracy theories.
The declassification of these JFK files was mandated by an executive order issued by Trump early in his presidency. This order extended beyond the Kennedy assassination, encompassing the declassification of government documents related to the assassinations of Senator Robert F. Kennedy and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
The release of these documents has sparked renewed interest in the processes of classification and declassification. It raises fundamental questions about what information the government deems sensitive, who decides what should be kept secret, and how those secrets can eventually be revealed to the public.
Understanding Classification
Information becomes classified when the government determines that its release could potentially threaten national security. This determination is especially relevant to documents and data stored by government agencies, containing information deemed too sensitive for public or unauthorized access. This type of sensitive data is often referred to as "classified national security information."
According to the National Archives, information can only be classified if an official determination is made that its unauthorized release would damage national security. The scope of classified information extends beyond traditional paper documents, encompassing photographs, maps, motion pictures, videotapes, databases, microfilms, hard drives, CDs, and various other forms of media.
Who Decides What Gets Classified?
A specialized group of government officials, known as Original Classification Authorities (OCA), is responsible for determining what information qualifies as classified and assigning the appropriate classification level. However, most classifications are actually made by "derivative classifiers," who are essentially government employees authorized to classify documents. Derivative classifiers rely on established guidelines and existing classified information to determine the classification level of new documents. When a new document incorporates information from a previously classified document, the classification level of the original document carries over.
The Levels of Classification
The classification levels are determined by the potential damage that could result from the improper release of the information. There are three levels of classification: Confidential, Secret, and Top Secret.
Top Secret is the highest level of protection, reserved for information that could cause exceptionally grave damage to national security if released. Secret designation is for information that could cause serious damage. Confidential is the lowest level of classification and is applied to information that poses a minimal risk to national security if disclosed.
The Process of Declassification
Information can be declassified through various methods, as outlined by the U.S. Department of Justice. One common method is automatic declassification, which occurs after a specified period of time, as determined by the original classifying authority. Generally, records that are 25 years old or older and possess permanent historical value are subject to automatic declassification unless they fall under a specific exemption.
Information can also be declassified if it no longer meets the standards for classification under Executive Order 13526, which established the current declassification protocols in 2009. This can occur due to various factors, such as the passage of time, changes in circumstances, or an initial improper categorization.
Public interest declassification is a less common but equally important avenue. It is employed when the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the potential damage to national security. The Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB) plays a crucial role in this process, advising the President of the United States on national classification and declassification policies.
Public interest declassification involves complex procedures and standards. Executive orders, such as the "Declassification Reviews of Certain Documents Concerning the Terrorist Attacks of September 11, 2001" signed by former President Joe Biden, can also trigger this form of declassification.
The JFK Files Release: Disappointment or Deeper Understanding?
Despite the Trump administration’s promises of a treasure trove of unredacted records that would be made available to the public for the first time, the released documents have yet to fundamentally alter the accepted narrative of the Kennedy assassination. The prevailing consensus remains that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in assassinating President Kennedy.
Much of the information that had previously been withheld from the public was due to redactions. However, the removal of these redactions has been criticized as sloppy, leading to a lawsuit after the Social Security numbers and other sensitive personal information of former congressional staffers were inadvertently released.
James Johnston, author of "Murder, Inc.: The CIA under John F. Kennedy," previously stated that he did not anticipate any major revelations from the release. He also noted that all agencies involved pledged to turn over all relevant documents to the National Archives in 1988. He believes that if the documents contained information that could embarrass the CIA or contradict the official narrative, they would not have been submitted to the National Archives in the first place.
While the release of the JFK files may not have yielded any bombshell revelations, it provides researchers and the public with a more complete picture of the events surrounding the assassination. It also sheds light on the complex processes of classification and declassification, highlighting the balance between national security and the public’s right to know. The declassification of these documents is a reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in government, even when dealing with sensitive historical events.
