Executive Order 12958

Classification Categories

Similar to the disclosure and access laws such as the Privacy Act and the Freedom of Information Act, the CIA under the EO must withhold specific categories of information in order to protect the national security of the United States. Among the classification categories in the EO, the most relevant to the CIA are:

• 1.5 (b): foreign government information.
• 1.5 (c): intelligence activities (including special activities), intelligence sources or methods, or cryptology.
• 1.5 (d) : foreign relations or foreign activities of the United States, including confidential sources.

Other classification categories protect military plans, weapons systems, or operations; scientific, technological, or economic matters; nuclear materials or facilities; and systems, installations, or projects relating to US national security.