Declassification of Records Relating to the Assassinations of President John F. Kennedy – The White House

By the authority vested in me as President under the Constitution and laws of the United States, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Policy and purpose. More than 50 years after the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the federal government has not released all of its records related to these events to the public. Their families and the American people deserve transparency and truth. It is in the national interest to finally release all records related to these assassinations without delay.

The President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 required all records related to the assassination of President Kennedy to be released in their entirety by October 26, 2017, unless the President certifies that: (i) continued release is necessary by an identifiable harm to military defense, intelligence operations, law enforcement or conduct of foreign relations; and (ii) the identifiable harm is so serious as to outweigh the public interest in disclosure. President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992, section 5(g)(2)(D), Public Law 102-526, 106 Stat. 3443, 3448–49, codified at 44 USC 2107 note.

I previously accepted proposed redactions from executive departments and agencies (agencies) in 2017 and 2018, but ordered continued reevaluation of the remaining redactions. See Temporary Certification of Certain Records Relating to the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, 82 Fed. Reg. 50,307-08 (October 31, 2017); Certification of Certain Records Relating to the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, 83 Fed. Reg. 19, 157-58 (April 26, 2018). In the President’s memorandum of April 26, 2018, I also directed agencies to review each of these redactions over the next 3 years and disclose information that no longer warrants continued detention under the standard set forth in section 5(g)(2) (D) of the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992.

President Biden subsequently issued certifications regarding these records in 2021, 2022, and 2023, giving agencies additional time to review the records and withhold information from public release. See Temporary Certification Regarding Release of Information in Certain Records Relating to the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, 86 Fed. Reg. 59,599 (October 22, 2021); Certifications Regarding Release of Information in Certain Records Relating to the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, 87 Fed. Reg. 77,967 (December 15, 2022); Certification Regarding Release of Information in Certain Records Relating to the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, 88 Fed. Reg. 43,247 (June 30, 2023).

I have now determined that the continued redaction and withholding of information from records relating to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy is not in the public interest, and the release of those records is long overdue. And although no law of Congress directs the release of information regarding the assassinations of Senator Robert F. Kennedy and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I have determined that the release of all records in the possession of the federal government concerning each of these assassinations is also in the public interest.

Sec. 2. Declassification and publication. (a) Within 15 days after the date of this order, the Director of National Intelligence and the Attorney General, in coordination with Assistant to the chairman of National Security Affairs and the Counsel to the President present a plan to the President for the full and complete release of records relating to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

(b) Within 45 days after the date of this order, the Director of National Intelligence and the Attorney General, in coordination with the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs and the Counsel to the President, shall review records relating to the assassinations of Senator Robert F. Kennedy and the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and presents a plan to the President for the full and complete release of these records.

Sec. 3. General provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget in relation to budgetary, administrative or legislative proposals.

(b) This order must be implemented in accordance with applicable law and subject to the availability of funds.

(c) This order is not intended to, and does not create, any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents; or any other person.

THE WHITE HOUSE,

23 January 2025.