Executive Order 10501

 it is essential that the citizens of the United States be informed concerning the activities of their government; and

 the interests of national defense require the preservation of the ability of the United States to protect and defend itself against all hostile or destructive action by covert or overt means, including espionage as well as military action; and

 it is essential that certain official information affecting the national defense be protected uniformly against unauthorized disclosure:

, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and statutes, and as President of the United States, and deeming such action necessary in the best interests of the national security, it is hereby ordered as follows:

{{SECTION|SEC. 1.|SECTION 1}}. CLASSIFICATION CATEGORIES.

 * Official information which requires protection in the interests of national defense shall be limited to three categories of classification, which in descending order of importance shall carry one of the following designations: Top Secret, Secret, or Confidential. No other designation shall be used to classify defense information, including military information, as requiring protection in the interests of national defense, except as expressly provided by statute.


 * These categories are defined as follows:

{{SECTION|SEC. 2.|SEC. 2}}. LIMITATION OF AUTHORITY TO CLASSIFY.

 * The authority to classify defense information or material under this order shall be limited in the departments and agencies of the executive branch as hereinafter specified. Departments and agencies subject to the specified limitations shall be designated by the President:

{{SECTION|SEC. 3.|SEC. 3}}. CLASSIFICATION.

 * Persons designated to have authority for original classification of information or material which requires protection in the interests of national defense under this order shall be held responsible for its proper classification in accordance with the definitions of the three categories in section 1, hereof. Unnecessary classification and over-classification shall be scrupulously avoided. The following special rules shall be observed in classification of defense information or material:

{{SECTION|SEC. 4.|SEC. 4}}. DECLASSIFICATION, DOWNGRADING, OR UPGRADING.

 * Heads of departments or agencies originating classified material shall designate persons to be responsible for continuing review of such classified material for the purpose of declassifying or downgrading it whenever national defense considerations permit, and for receiving requests for such review from all sources. Formal procedures shall be established to provide specific means for prompt review of classified material and its declassification or downgrading in order to preserve the effectiveness and integrity of the classification system and to eliminate accumulation of classified material which no longer requires protection in the defense interest. The following special rules shall be observed with respect to changes of classification of defense material:

{{SECTION|SEC. 5.|SEC. 5}}. MARKING OF CLASSIFIED MATERIAL.

 * After a determination of the proper defense classification to be assigned has been made in accordance with the provisions of this order, the classified material shall be marked as follows:


 * Use of alternative marking concerning "Restricted Data" as defined by the Atomic Energy Act is authorized when appropriate.

{{SECTION|SEC. 6.|SEC. 6}}. CUSTODY AND SAFEKEEPING.

 * The possession or use of classified defense information or material shall be limited to locations where facilities for secure storage or protection thereof are available by means of which unauthorized persons are prevented from gaining access thereto. Whenever such information or material is not under the personal supervision of its custodian, whether during or outside of working hours, the following physical or mechanical means shall be taken to protect it:

{{SECTION|SEC. 7.|SEC. 7}}. ACCOUNTABILITY AND DISSEMINATION.

 * Knowledge or possession of classified defense information shall be permitted only to persons whose official duties require such access in the interest of promoting national defense and only if they have been determined to be trustworthy. Proper control of dissemination of classified defense information shall be maintained at all times, including good accountability records of classified defense information documents, and severe limitation on the number of such documents originated as well as the number of copies thereof reproduced. The number of copies of classified defense information documents shall be kept to a minimum to decrease the risk of compromise of the information contained in such documents and the financial burden on the Government in protecting such documents. The following special rules shall be observed in connection with accountability for and dissemination of defense information or material:

{{SECTION|SEC. 8.|SEC. 8}}. TRANSMISSION.

 * For transmission outside of a department or agency, classified defense material of the three categories originated under the provisions of this order shall be prepared and transmitted as follows:

{{SECTION|SEC. 9.|SEC. 9}}. DISPOSAL AND DESTRUCTION.

 * Documentary record material made or received by a department or agency in connection with transaction of public business and preserved as evidence of the organization, functions, policies, operations, decisions, procedures or other activities of any department or agency of the Government, or because of the informational value of the data contained therein, may be destroyed only in accordance with the act of July 7, 1943, c. 192, 57 Stat. 380, as amended, 44 U.S.C. 366-380. Non-record classified material, consisting of extra copies and duplicates including shorthand notes, preliminary drafts, used carbon paper, and other material of similar temporary nature, may be destroyed, under procedures established by the head of the department or agency which meet the following requirements, as soon as it has served its purpose:

{{SECTION|SEC. 10.|SEC. 10}}. ORIENTATION AND INSPECTION.

 * To promote the basic purposes of this order, heads of those departments and agencies originating or handling classified defense information shall designate experienced persons to coordinate and supervise the activities applicable to their departments or agencies under this order. Persons so designated shall maintain active training and orientation programs for employees concerned with classified defense information to impress each such employee with his individual responsibility for exercising vigilance and care in complying with the provisions of this order. Such persons shall be authorized on behalf of the heads of the departments and agencies to establish adequate and active inspection programs to the end that the provisions of this order are administered effectively.

{{SECTION|SEC. 11.|SEC. 11}}. INTERPRETATION OF REGULATIONS BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

 * The Attorney General, upon request of the head of a department or agency or his duly designated representative, shall personally or through authorized representatives of the Department of Justice render an interpretation of these regulations in connection with any problems arising out of their administration.

{{SECTION|SEC. 12.|SEC. 12}}. STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS.

 * Nothing in this order shall be construed to authorize the dissemination, handling or transmission of classified information contrary to the provisions of any statute.

{{SECTION|SEC. 13.|SEC. 13}}. "RESTRICTED DATA" AS DEFINED IN THE ATOMIC ENERGY ACT.

 * Nothing in this order shall supersede any requirements made by or under the Atomic Energy Act of August 1, 1946, as amended. "Restricted Data" as defined by the said act shall be handled, protected, classified, downgraded, and declassified in conformity with the provisions of the Atomic Energy Act of 1946, as amended, and the regulations of the Atomic Energy Commission.

{{SECTION|SEC. 14.|SEC. 14}}. COMBAT OPERATIONS.

 * The provisions of this order with regard to dissemination, transmission, or safekeeping of classified defense information or material may be so modified in connection with combat or combat-related operations as the Secretary of Defense may by regulations prescribe.

{{SECTION|SEC. 15.|SEC. 15}}. EXCEPTIONAL CASES.

 * When, in an exceptional case, a person or agency not authorized to classify defense information originates information which is believed to require classification, such person or agency shall protect that information in the manner prescribed by this order for that category of classified defense information into which it is believed to fall, and shall transmit the information forthwith, under appropriate safeguards, to the department, agency, or person having both the authority to classify information and a direct official interest in the information (preferably, that department, agency or person to which the information would be transmitted in the ordinary course of business), with a request that such department, agency, or person classify the information.

{{SECTION|SEC. 16.|SEC. 16}}. REVIEW TO INSURE THAT INFORMATION IS NOT IMPROPERLY WITHHELD HEREUNDER.

 * The President shall designate a member of his staff who shall receive, consider, and take action upon, suggestions or complaints from non-Governmental sources relating to the operation of this order.

{{SECTION|SEC. 17.|SEC. 17}}. REVIEW TO INSURE SAFEGUARDING OF CLASSIFIED DEFENSE INFORMATION.

 * The National Security Council shall conduct a continuing review of the implementation of this order to insure that classified defense information is properly safeguarded, in conformity herewith.

{{SECTION|SEC. 18.|SEC. 18}}. REVIEW WITHIN DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES.

 * The head of each department and agency shall designate a member or members of his staff who shall conduct a continuing review of the implementation of this order within the department or agency concerned to insure that no information is withheld hereunder which the people of the United States have a right to know, and to insure that classified defense information is properly safeguarded in conformity herewith.

{{SECTION|SEC. 19.|SEC. 19}}. REVOCATION OF EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 10290.

 * Executive Order No. 10290 of September 24, 1951 is revoked as of the effective date of this order.

{{SECTION|SEC. 20.|SEC. 20}}. EFFECTIVE DATE.

 * This order shall become effective on December 15, 1953.

, November 5, 1953.