WarMonitor on Nostr: CBS News reports that the Pentagon has asked Congress for new authority to withhold ...

CBS News reports that the Pentagon has asked Congress for new authority to withhold certain "Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)" from release under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). According to the proposal, the War Department could deny disclosure if it determines the records reveal national defense vulnerabilities and that the potential harm from release outweighs the public interest.

Supporters argue the change would close gaps in existing law and provide more consistent protection for sensitive, but unclassified, defense information from foreign adversaries. The Pentagon says the proposal is intended to strengthen national security protections, not create a blanket exemption.

Critics, including transparency advocates and civil liberties groups, argue existing FOIA exemptions and the classification system already provide mechanisms to protect genuinely sensitive information. They warn the proposal could make it more difficult for the public and journalists to scrutinize the Pentagon's activities and spending by creating a broader basis for withholding records that are not formally classified.