SECRECY NEWS
from the FAS Project on Government Secrecy
Volume 2014, Issue No. 43
June 27, 2014Secrecy News Blog: http://fas.org/blogs/secrecy/
THE C-130 HERCULES AIRCRAFT, AND MORE FROM CRS
The C-130 Hercules aircraft, which was introduced over half a century ago, is often flown by crew members who are younger than the plane they are flying. And that peculiar arrangement is likely to continue into the foreseeable future, says a new report from the Congressional Research Service.
"The C-130 has been the cornerstone of the U.S. tactical airlift fleet since the late 1950s. Military planners believe that C-130 aircraft provide the United States an edge in achieving national goals. They provide a capability to rapidly deliver forces making conventional deterrence more effective and expanding the ability to provide humanitarian assistance. However, the fleet has aged with some current models being flown by aircrew younger than the aircraft they are flying. As the fleet ages, management issues arise with reduced reliability, obsolescence and reduced parts availability, and changing aviation rules that impact availability of airspace due to obsolete avionics capabilities," the CRS report said.
See "C-130 Hercules: Background, Sustainment, Modernization, Issues for Congress," June 24, 2014:
http://fas.org/sgp/crs/weapons/R43618.pdf
Other newly updated CRS reports on Navy force structure and related issues include the following.
Navy Shipboard Lasers for Surface, Air, and Missile Defense: Background and Issues for Congress, June 25, 2014:
http://fas.org/sgp/crs/weapons/R41526.pdf
Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Program: Background and Issues for Congress, June 25, 2014:
http://fas.org/sgp/crs/weapons/RL33741.pdf
Navy DDG-51 and DDG-1000 Destroyer Programs: Background and Issues for Congress, June 25, 2014:
http://fas.org/sgp/crs/weapons/RL32109.pdf
Navy Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Program: Background and Issues for Congress, June 25, 2014:
http://fas.org/sgp/crs/weapons/RL33745.pdf
Navy Force Structure and Shipbuilding Plans: Background and Issues for Congress, June 25, 2014:
http://fas.org/sgp/crs/weapons/RL32665.pdf
Navy LX(R) Amphibious Ship Program: Background and Issues for Congress, June 25, 2014:
http://fas.org/sgp/crs/weapons/R43543.pdf
Navy TAO(X) Oiler Shipbuilding Program: Background and Issues for Congress, June 25, 2014:
http://fas.org/sgp/crs/weapons/R43546.pdf
Navy Virginia (SSN-774) Class Attack Submarine Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress, June 25, 2014:
http://fas.org/sgp/crs/weapons/RL32418.pdf
"FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY" USED TOO MUCH AT DHS
There is too much information that is marked "For Official Use Only" at the Department of Homeland Security, the House Appropriations Committee said in its report on DHS Appropriations for 2015. Efforts to sort out what is really sensitive have "wasted substantial staff resources," the report said.
http://gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CRPT-113hrpt481/html/CRPT-113hrpt481.htm
Therefore, the Committee would require any official who marked a document FOUO to identify himself or herself on the document, along with a justification for doing so.
The Committee inaptly described the use of FOUO controls as a problem of "overclassification," and spoke of "classifying" records as FOUO. Strictly speaking, however, national security classification and FOUO are mutually exclusive domains. Classified records cannot be marked as FOUO, and information or documents that are FOUO are by definition unclassified.
Here is the Committee language from its June 19 DHS Appropriations report:
Over-Classification of Information
The Committee is concerned with the number of reports, briefings, and responses to requests for information that are designated by the Department as "For Official Use Only" (FOUO), often without a consistent and appropriate review as to why information requires such a classification. As a consequence, both the Committee and the Department have wasted substantial staff resources deliberating over what information can and could be publicly disclosed. The Committee directs that all reports, briefings, or responses to requests for information provided to the Committee that are classified as FOUO include the name(s) and title(s) of the personnel that made the designation and the specific reasons for the classification based on requirements detailed in DHS Management Directive 11042.1, which provides guidance for safeguarding sensitive but unclassified FOUO information.
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Secrecy News is written by Steven Aftergood and published by the Federation of American Scientists.
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