UNCLASSIFIED

DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE
WASHINGTON, DC 20511

ES 2016-00158

MEMORANDUM FOR: Distribution

SUBJECT: Addendum to the FY 2017 Fundamental Classification
Guidance Review

REFERENCE: ISOO Memo, FY 2017 Fundamental Classification Guidance
Review, 17 March 2016

The referenced memorandum provides guidance on the FY 2017 Fundamental
Classification Guidance Review (FCGR) as required by §1.9 of Executive Order 13526 Classified
National Security Information. The memorandum also requires status updates in October 2016
and February 2017, with a final report due to Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO) by 30
June 2017.

This periodic review provides an ideal platform for the Intelligence Community (IC), as
stewards of the nation’s most sensitive information, to take a leading role in reducing targeted
classification activities that could extend to the larger Federal government. In addition to the scope
and reporting requirements addressed in the referenced memorandum, I am requesting your personal
involvement in conducting the following four feasibility studies to determine if these initiatives can
be achieved within your agencies and also possibly apply to the rest of the Federal government.

1. Reducing the Number of Original Classification Authorities (OCA): Please comment on
the feasibility of reducing the number of OCAs in your agency to the minimum number
required and any negative impacts this might have on mission capabilities. The Office of
the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) undertook a similar initiative last year and
reduced those with OCA from 24 to 10 by implementing a “use it or lose it” criterion.
This did not negatively impact operations and actually saved time that had previously
been spent ensuring the completion of annual training.

2. Increasing discretionary declassification decisions: Please comment on what would be
required to implement a proactive discretionary declassification program distinct from the
systematic, automatic, and mandatory declassification review programs outlined in 32
CFR Part 2001, §2001.35. Would this require additional resources or could it be
accomplished, for example, by better aligning existing resources, and revising policies
and procedures?

UNCLASSIFIED


UNCLASSIFIED

SUBJECT: Addendum to the FY 2017 Fundamental Classification Guidance Review

3. Creating an IC-wide Classification Guide: Please comment on the benefits and
drawbacks of implementing an IC-wide guide in the non-operational and more common
areas of the IC. If adopted, how might this benefit the IC enterprise?

4. Eliminating CONFIDENTIAL from Agency Guides: Please comment on whether the
CONFIDENTIAL classification level can be eliminated from your agencies’ guides and

the negative impacts this might have on mission success. This action could promote
transparency by:

a.
b.

simplifying agency classification practices;

focusing personnel more directly on only marking items that would cause
significant and demonstrable harm to national security if improperly released;
reflecting the fact that few, if any, personnel security clearances, or facility or
network accreditations, are issued at the CONFIDENTIAL level; and

aligning our marking levels to those of the United Kingdom, whose classification
system successfully eliminated CONFIDENTIAL without impact in April 2014
(ISOO Notice 2014-03). Evaluating this proposal will involve taking a hard look
at your CONFIDENTIAL OCA decisions with a view toward either lowering
them to UNCLASSIFIED [or CUI (CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED
INFORMATION) or raising them to SECRET.

I appreciate your commitment and leadership on this important topic and value your input
in determining if these initiatives are feasible. I believe your efforts will serve as a significant
step forward in furthering our shared goals for greater openness and reduced classification
activity while protecting legitimate national security interests.

Please provide copies of the ISOO status reports to ODNI’s Information Management
Division (IMD) in the Office of Policy and Strategy. In addition, please include your responses
to the four areas above as part of your February 2017 update.

rl have any questions, please contact Ms. Jennifer Hudson, Director, IMD ai

JaMes R. Clapper

2AMAR Zoib

Date

2

UNCLASSIFIED


UNCLASSIFIED

SUBJECT: Addendum to the FY 2017 Fundamental Classification Guidance Review

Distribution:

Director, Central Intelligence Agency

Director, Defense Intelligence Agency

Director, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

Director, National Security Agency/Chief, Central Security Service
Director, National Reconnaissance Office

Copy to:
Director, Information Security Oversight Office
Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence

3

UNCLASSIFIED