spyology

the shadow

NEW ORDER ON STATE, LOCAL ACCESS TO CLASSIFIED INFO

The White House issued an executive order last week to formalize
procedures for sharing classified information with state, local and
private sector entities. The new order does not alter or amend previous
orders on national security classification or access to classified
information, but it should facilitate increased sharing of classified
information with non-federal officials.

The closest thing to a policy innovation in the new order seems to be a
provision that "a duly elected or appointed Governor of a State or
territory... may be granted access to classified information without a
background investigation" once he or she has signed a non-disclosure
agreement and "absent disqualifying conduct as determined by the clearance
granting official" (Section 1.3b).

"Information sharing" in this context is a paradoxical term that also
implies "information non-sharing" with those who are not cleared for
access to the information. For that reason it is a mixed blessing that
some otherwise qualified persons may choose to forgo. See Executive Order
13549 on "Classified National Security Information Program for State,
Local, Tribal, and Private Sector Entities," August 18, 2010.
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