National Security Director Jame Clapper has banned federal intelligence employees from discussing any contact with reporters even if the matter is unclassified. Those violating the rules would lose their security clearances or jobs and be prosecuted if discussing classified information. (McClatchyDC, April 21, 2014, by Jonathan S. Landay)
First revealed by Steven Aftergood of Secrecy News, April 21, 2014, Clapper’s memo requires authorization for any contact with the media and asks for reports on “unplanned or unintentional contact with the media….” Aftergood was critical of the directive, “…there is no particular reason to think that routine interactions between intelligence agency employees and reporters — especially on unclassified matters — pose any kind of threat to national security, or that limiting them will offer any benefit. However, the new policy is likely to be effective in reducing the quality, independence and critical content of intelligence-related information that is available to the press and the public.”