Trump says Pulte can declassify ‘whatever’ he wants, sparking fears of exposing intelligence secrets
“If he doesn’t care about blowing up cyber exploits, putting foreign relationships at risk, or getting people killed, he could declassify a lot,” one former official said.
The comments made by Trump regarding declassification of sensitive information have raised concerns among national security experts and former officials. The ability to declassify information is typically reserved for certain government officials, and the process involves careful consideration of the potential consequences of releasing sensitive information.
The concern is that declassifying certain information, such as cyber exploits or intelligence gathering methods, could put foreign relationships at risk, compromise national security, or even put people's lives in danger. This is particularly concerning given that the President has access to a wide range of classified information and has the authority to declassify it.
What's next to watch is how the administration responds to these concerns and whether there are any checks or balances put in place to prevent the unauthorized release of sensitive information. Additionally, personnel moves within the administration, particularly at agencies responsible for national security and intelligence, may be closely watched for any indication of a shift in policy or approach to classification and declassification.
Originally reported by govexec.com. PersonelNews adds analysis for government & civic readers.