National Archives unveils crucial JFK files: ‘Preserving what’s essential’

Over 99% of JFK Assassination Documents Released to the Public

Exciting news! The White House has announced that more than 99 percent of the classified documents related to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy have been made publicly available. This comes after a thorough review by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), demonstrating the Biden administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability.

During a press briefing, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre highlighted President Biden’s leadership in declassifying over 16,000 records since 2021. Jean-Pierre stated, “This action reflects his instruction that all information related to President Kennedy’s assassination should be released, except when the strongest possible reasons counsel otherwise.”

Thanks to this effort, the National Archives now offers public access to over 99 percent of the records in their collection. Furthermore, in line with President Biden’s directive, the National Archives will be digitizing the entire collection to enhance accessibility for the public.

In a memo to executive department and agency heads, President Biden shared that NARA had completed the review on May 1. He certified the continued redaction of certain information but required the release of all other releasable information by June 30.

Looking ahead, future reviews will be conducted by the National Declassification Center (NDC) at NARA, as outlined in the transparency plans submitted by federal agencies.

‘We Protect What We Must’

These new releases follow President Biden’s December 2022 directive, urging relevant agencies and departments to review remaining redactions 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 had requested the postponement of certain disclosures.

Since the December memo, NARA has already 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 expressed confidence in the collaborative efforts of NARA staff, partners, and stakeholder agencies to maximize the availability of information while safeguarding necessary protections.

Shogan added, “I have every confidence that the NDC’s implementation of these plans offers a clear path forward for public transparency and the timely release of additional information as circumstances warrant.”

‘What Are They Hiding?’

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

On Twitter, Kennedy expressed his concerns, stating, “It’s not about conspiracy—it is about transparency.” He mourned the “bad news” that some records would remain secret, questioning what national security secrets could still be at risk after 60 years. He asked, “What are they hiding?”

Kennedy argued that the postponement violated the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992, which mandated the public disclosure of each record in the collection no later than 25 years after the law’s enactment.

That deadline has come and gone, leaving many wondering about the true extent of the information that remains undisclosed.