Federal · Title 50 — War and National Defense

50 U.S.C. § 3349: Notification regarding the authorized public disclosure of national intelligence

Civil

What this law says, in plain English

This statute establishes procedures and requirements for authorized disclosure of classified national intelligence by Executive Branch officials, including notification obligations and exceptions for statutory, legal, and security clearance contexts.

Read the full statutory text
such intelligence is classified; or is declassified for the purpose of the disclosure; and the disclosure will be made by an officer, employee, or contractor of the Executive branch. Media personnel. Any person or entity, if the disclosure described in subsection (a) is made with the intent or knowledge that such information will be made publicly available. provide the specific title and authority of the individual authorizing the disclosure; if applicable, provide the specific title and authority of the individual who authorized the declassification of the intelligence disclosed; and describe the intelligence disclosed, including the classification of the intelligence prior to its disclosure or declassification and the rationale for making the disclosure. pursuant to any statutory requirement, including to section 552 of title 5 (commonly referred to as the “Freedom of Information Act”); in connection with a civil, criminal, or administrative proceeding; as a result of a declassification review process under Executive Order 13526 ( 50 U.S.C. 435 note) [now 50 U.S.C. 3161 note] or any successor order; or to any officer, employee, or contractor of the Federal government or member of an advisory committee to an element of the intelligence community who possesses an active security clearance and a need to know the specific national intelligence or intelligence related to national security, as defined in section 3003(5) of this title . the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives. The term ‘intelligence community’ has the meaning given that term in section 3(4) of the National Security Act of 1947 ( 50 U.S.C. 401a(4) ) [now 50 U.S.C. 3003(4) ].”

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.