National Archives releases majority of JFK files, but not all: ‘We prioritize protection’.

Get ready for a major revelation! Over 99 percent of the classified documents surrounding the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy have been released to the public. This exciting news comes after a thorough review by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), as announced by the White House.

During a press briefing on June 30, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre shared the thrilling conclusion of the review. She emphasized that this action demonstrates the Biden administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability in government.

“Under President Biden’s leadership, more than 16,000 records have been fully declassified since 2021,” Jean-Pierre proudly stated. “President Biden has instructed that all information related to President Kennedy’s assassination should be released, unless there are compelling reasons not to do so.”

Thanks to this directive, the National Archives now offers public access to over 99 percent of the records in their collection. And that’s not all! The National Archives will also be digitizing the entire collection to make it even more accessible to the public, in line with President Biden’s vision.

Earlier on the same day, President Joe Biden issued a memo to executive department and agency heads, revealing that NARA had completed the review on May 1. The memo requested the postponement of certain redacted information, which Biden certified. However, he also mandated that all releasable information be made public by June 30.

President Biden’s transparency plans include future reviews conducted by the National Declassification Center (NDC) at NARA, as outlined in the transparency plans submitted by federal agencies.

‘We Protect What We Must’

The recent releases are a direct result of President Biden’s December 2022 directive. He called for relevant agencies and departments to review the remaining redactions in the collection and disclose all information, unless there are compelling reasons not to do so.

Entities such as the CIA, FBI, State Department, Defense Department, and NARA itself sought the postponement of certain disclosures. However, NARA has since published an additional 2,672 documents in full or with fewer redactions on their website.

“At the National Archives, we believe in the importance of government transparency and the accessibility of information,” stated National Archivist Colleen Shogan in a statement. She commended the dedicated work of NARA staff, partners, and stakeholder agencies, highlighting their collaboration in ensuring maximum information availability while protecting necessary secrets.

Shogan expressed confidence in the NDC’s implementation of transparency plans, which she believes will pave the way for public transparency and the timely release of additional information as needed.

‘What Are They Hiding?’

However, not everyone shares Shogan’s confidence. One skeptic is Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the nephew of President John F. Kennedy.

On Twitter, Kennedy mourned the “bad news” that some records would remain secret. He emphasized that it’s not about conspiracy but about transparency. “The assassination was 60 years ago,” he wrote. “What national security secrets could possibly be at risk? What are they hiding?”

Kennedy argued that the postponement violates the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (pdf). This law requires that each record be publicly disclosed in full and available in the Collection no later than 25 years after the law’s enactment, which passed on Oct. 26, 2017.

With the recent developments, the public eagerly awaits further revelations and hopes for a complete understanding of this significant event in history.