Information is prohibited from being classified for several key reasons:
- To conceal violations of law, inefficiencies, or administrative errors. Classification must not be used to hide wrongdoing, mistakes, or failures within the government or agencies.
- To prevent embarrassment to a person, organization, or agency. Classification cannot be used solely to shield officials or entities from public scrutiny or political fallout.
- To restrain competition, such as protecting proprietary or economic interests unrelated to national security. Misuse of classification to favor certain contractors or market players is prohibited.
- To prevent or delay the release of information that does not require protection for national security purposes. Classification should not be used to unlawfully withhold releasable information from the public.
These prohibitions are laid out in Executive Order 13526, Section 1.7 and are intended to ensure classification serves legitimate national security interests rather than improper secrecy, cover-ups, or unfair advantage. Improper classification undermines trust, accountability, and transparency in government operations.
