Freedom of Information Act Requests for Classified Documents Processing, Fees, Reports, Applicable Material, Declassification Criteria, Partial Release

This action removes the National Security Council regulations for processing FOIA requests for classified documents. The National Security Council is an entity within the Executive Office of the President that exists solely to advise and assist the President in the discharge of his constitutionally based responsibilities over the national security affairs of the United States, and thus NSC records are not subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. This action is consistent with the holding of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in Armstrong, et al. v. Executive Office of the President, et al., 90 F.3d 553 (1996), cert. denied, 117 S. Ct. 1842 (1997). Requesters may continue to seek access to NSC documents by writing to the National Security Council, Access Management Staff, Washington, DC 20504.

This is a factual description of what was issued or decided, not an assessment of it.