LETTER TO JAMES C. MILLER III FROM JOHN N. MCMAHON

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP89B00297R000300570005-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 23, 2012
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: March 8, 1986
• Content Type: LETTER

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/03/23: CIA-RDP89BOO297R000300570005-7 ry
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8 March 1986
The Honorable James C. Miller III
Director
Office of Management and Budget
Washington, D.C. 20503
Mr. Miller'
I know that you share my concern regarding the increasing threat to
our national security posed by unauthorized disclosure of classified
intelligence information. The compromise of our intelligence sources,
both human and technical, has placed lives in jeopardy and rendered
expensive technical collection systems ineffective. Unfortunately, we
have not been able to take effective steps to punish those who have
violated their obligation to protect classified information and this has
created the perception that nobody cares. We simply must restore
discipline to the handling of sensitive information.
While there is no single solution to the problem of leaks, one step
that can be taken is to enact legislation that would criminalize the
reprehensible conduct of disclosing classified information to those
outside government who are not authorized to receive it. Enactment of
leaks legislation; combined with a vigorous effort to detect those who
are engaged in disclosing classified information, will restore an element
of risk to those who misuse classified information.
We have proposed leaks legislation as part of the draft Intelligence
Authorization Bill for the past two years. Last year, objections were
raised to the inclusion of leaks legislation in the Authorization Bill,
because the issue needed to be studied more closely and a consensus
reached within the Executive Branch on whether we should attempt to enact
leaks legislation. To date, I am not aware that any action has been
taken to reach such a consensus.
This year we again proposed leaks legislation as part of the
Authorization Bill. Once again, we were told that consideration of leaks
legislation should be postponed. I do not believe we can continue to
indefinitely postpone taking effective action. Too many of our nation's
secrets have already been compromised to continue a business. as usual
attitude.
OS REGISTRY
/A n
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/03/23: CIA-RDP89B00297R000300570005-7
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I> r .,
Given the exceedingly compressed time frame imposed on the
authorization process by Gramm-Rudman, I do not want to Jeopardize the
rest of our FY 87 authorization bill because of another internal debate
on this issue. Therefore, I reluctantly agree to the deletion of the
leaks provisions from this year's bill. In return, I trust that OMB will
support and facilitate the enactment of strong leaks legislation this
year.
Sincerely,
ohn N. McMahon _
Acing Dire for of Central Intelligence
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/03/23 : CIA-RDP89B00297R000300570005-7
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