Case dismissed based on state secret privilege, Bio agents app, new CRS reports and much more. From the Blogs Court Dismisses Case Based on State Secrets Privilege: On August 14, a federal court dismissed a lawsuit which alleged that the Federal Bureau of Investigation had engaged in unlawful surveillance of Muslim residents of southern California. [...]
Congress resists efforts to reduce secrecy, U.S. strategy in Yemen, new CRS reports and much more. From the Blogs Justice Department Silent on IG Role in State Secrets Cases: The Department of Justice told Congress recently that it would not disclose the number of state secrets cases involving alleged government misconduct, if any, that have [...]
Polygraph tests and leaks, DoD report on Iran and much more. From the Blogs Fundamental Classification Review Yields Uncertain Results: The executive branch has just completed a two-year review of its classification guidance that was ordered by President Obama as a way to combat overclassification of government information. The early results of the Fundamental Classification [...]
Second thoughts in Congress about drones, new CRS reports and much more. From the Blogs Air Force Policy on Congressional Relations: Steven Aftergood writes that the U.S. Air Force says its policy is to provide information to Congress as needed, but with preference given to members of the Armed Services Committees over other Committees, [...]
FAS in Jordan, UN Centres of Excellence, nuclear deterrence and much more. From the Blogs Centres of Excellence: The United Nations recently issued a press release stating that the international body is creating eight “Centres of Excellence” around the world to “help countries mitigate the risks related to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) material, [...]
FAS issue brief and podcast on sanctions in Iran and North Korea, new CRS reports and much more. Sanctions and Nonproliferation in Iran and North Korea This week, FAS released a new issue brief, “Sanctions and Nonproliferation in North Korea and Iran,” co-authored by Mr. Daniel Wertz, Program Officer at the National Committee on North [...]
From the Blogs Bill to Strengthen Whistleblower Protections Advances: Last week the House Oversight Committee reported out the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act, a bill that is intended to increase protections for government employees and contractors who “blow the whistle” and disclose illegal or improper government activity. Steven Aftergood writes that among other things, the bill [...]
Congress will allow Energy Department to reclassify nuke info, new biosecurity podcast and much more. From the Blogs Congress Will Allow Energy Department to Reclassify Nuke Info: Steven Aftergood writes that Congress is poised to amend the Atomic Energy Act to allow certain nuclear weapons-related information that is classified as Formerly Restricted Data (FRD) to [...]
Investigation into leak of Israel-Iran information, NATO’s nuclear Groundhog Day, new CRS reports and much more. From the Blogs Restrictions on WikiLeaks Documents Challenged in Court: Steven Aftergood writes that the publication of leaked classified documents by WikiLeaks continues to confound government officials and to generate some unusual legal tangles. Last month, attorneys for [...]
Cost of B61 bomb escalating, radioactive smuggling, cyber threats and much more. From the Blogs USAF Drones May Conduct “Incidental” Domestic Surveillance: U.S. Air Force policy permits the incidental collection of domestic imagery by unmanned aerial systems (drones), but ordinarily would not allow targeted surveillance of a U.S. person. The Air Force policy was restated [...]