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Title 50 — War and National DefenseRelease 119-73

§3355c Protection of national security information and other information

Title 50 › Chapter CHAPTER 45— - MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY AUTHORITIES › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III–A— - PUBLIC INTEREST DECLASSIFICATIONS › § 3355c

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Protects existing powers. Agency heads must still be able to classify information and keep information they already classified. They must also be able to allow or deny access to special access programs. The Director of National Intelligence must still protect intelligence sources and methods as required by section 3024(h). It keeps the exemptions under section 552 (the Freedom of Information Act) and section 552a (the Privacy Act). It does not allow withholding information from Congress.

Full Legal Text

Title 50, §3355c

War and National Defense — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to limit the authority of the head of an agency to classify information or to continue the classification of information previously classified by that agency.
(b)Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to limit the authority of the head of an agency to grant or deny access to a special access program.
(c)Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to limit the authorities of the Director of National Intelligence as the head of the intelligence community, including the Director’s responsibility to protect intelligence sources and methods from unauthorized disclosure as required by 3024(h) 11 So in original. Probably should be preceded by “section”. of this title.
(d)Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to limit any exemption or exception to the release to the public under this subchapter of information that is protected under subsection (b) of section 552 of title 5 (commonly referred to as the “Freedom of Information Act”), or section 552a of title 5 (commonly referred to as the “Privacy Act”).
(e)Nothing in this subchaper shall be construed to authorize the withholding of information from Congress.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was formerly set out in a note under section 3161 of this title.

Amendments

2025—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 119–60 substituted “3024(h)” for “section 3024(i)”. 2022—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 117–263 substituted “section 3024(i) of this title” for “section 103(c)(6) of the National Security Act of 1947”. 2007—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 110–53 substituted “Director of National Intelligence” for “Director of Central Intelligence” in heading and text.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

50 U.S.C. § 3355c

Title 50 — War and National Defense

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73