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Title 50, War and National DefenseRelease 119-110

§3355c Protection of National Security Information and Other Information

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

Last updated Sep 23, 2026|Official source

Summary

Agency leaders keep their power to classify information and to keep information already classified. They also keep the power to allow or deny access to special access programs. The Director of National Intelligence keeps his or her authorities as head of the intelligence community, including the duty to protect intelligence sources and methods. Exemptions under the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act still apply. Nothing here lets anyone withhold information from Congress.

Full Legal Text

Title 50, §3355c

War and National Defense, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general
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)Special access programs
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)Authorities of Director of National Intelligence
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) of this title.
(d)Exemptions to release of information
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)Withholding information from Congress
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

Sep 23, 2026

Release point: 119-110