Deficiencies Noticed In American National Classification Procedures

The top American intel officer Avril Haines has warned the possible deficiency in the nation’s classification procedures, saying that this could possibly create a national security threat. He further added that the current system classifies so much information, that it puts the national security as risk. The reason – time taken to process the information.

"It is my view that deficiencies in the current classification system undermine our national security, as well as critical democratic objectives, by impeding our ability to share information in a timely manner, be that sharing with our intelligence partners, our oversight bodies, or, when appropriate, with the general public," she writes in a letter dated Jan. 5 and sent to Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Jerry Moran, R-Kan.

As per the statement by Avril, the current classification system slows down the intelligence community’s capacity to help the senior policy maker’s decision making and also reduces the basic trust of the citizens have in their government.

The challenge to manage both – Protection of National Security and appropriately share it is not a new challenge. This had never been easy, she added.

In a message by the senators in October, written to Haines, they expressed concern on the current classification system. As per the senator, numerous reviews of the process have "documented concerns across the entire lifecycle of the current system."

Haines shared that the effort to make changes in the process has already started, but kept confidential as of now. In her remarks she also shared the issue of classification is also "great importance" to President Biden.