Site menu:   Simplifying the Declassification Review Process for
Historical Records  by on March 29, 2011  The Problem  National
security records frequently contain classified information from
more than one agency.  Under Executive Order 13526, “Classified
National Security Information” (the Order), only the agency that
creates classified information can declassify it. [1] If an
agency produces a record containing its own information as well
as information from one or more other agencies, it must not only
review its own information for declassification but must also
refer the record to each agency that “owns” the additional
classified information (called “equities”) in question.  A final
declassification determination on information in the record is
made only after all agencies have rendered decisions on their
respective equities.  For the past 16 years, no single policy
consideration has generated more difficulties for the conduct of
the Automatic Declassification program than the principle of
agency ownersh