SECRECY NEWS
from the FAS Project on Government Secrecy
Volume 2017, Issue No. 59
August 22, 2017

Secrecy News Blog: https://fas.org/blogs/secrecy/

STATE DEPT SLOW TO FOLLOW WHITE HOUSE ORDER

When President Trump issued a National Security Presidential Memorandum (NSPM) on US policy towards Cuba on June 16, he included a provision ordering that it be published in the Federal Register: "The Secretary of State is hereby authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register."

Now, more than two months later, the document has still not appeared in the Federal Register. (Previous memoranda in this series were all published in the Federal Register less than a week after they were signed by the President.)

Since the text of the Cuba NSPM has already been posted on the White House website (though without its identifying number NSPM-5), it is not a secret. And in the larger scheme of things, failing to publish it in the Federal Register is no great dereliction of duty.

But it indicates a glitch in the machinery of government in this Administration. When the President directs a subordinate to carry out an action, no matter how trivial, it is supposed to be carried out. That did not happen here.

For some reason, the gears in this Administration are not turning normally and predictably. Even easy things are not consistently getting done.

Why not?

In response to our inquiry, the State Department offered not an explanation for the delay but only an affirmation that the Department still plans to publish the Presidential memo in the Federal Register. Sometime.

DOD RELEASES PLAN TO SPLIT ACQUISITION OFFICE

In response to congressional direction, the Department of Defense is planning to divide its existing defense acquisition office into two separate organizations. The change, which would take effect in February 2018, is predicated on the belief that it would promote technological innovation and increase efficiency.

A new report from the Congressional Research Service provides background on the move. See DOD Plan to Split Acquisition Duties, CRS Insight, August 18, 2017:

Other new and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service include the following.

Select Acquisition Reform Provisions in the House and Senate Versions of the FY2018 National Defense Authorization Act, August 21, 2017:

Who Regulates Whom? An Overview of the U.S. Financial Regulatory Framework, August 17, 2017:

Select Demographic and Other Characteristics of Recent U.S. Circuit and District Court Nominees, CRS Insight, August 17, 2017:

The United Arab Emirates (UAE): Issues for U.S. Policy, updated August 18, 2017:

U.S. Role in the World: Background and Issues for Congress, updated August 17, 2017:

China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities -- Background and Issues for Congress, updated August 18, 2017:

Maritime Territorial and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Disputes Involving China: Issues for Congress, updated August 17, 2017:

Comparing DHS Component Funding, FY2018: In Brief, August 21, 2017:

Violence Against Members of Congress and Their Staff: Selected Examples and Congressional Responses, updated August 17, 2017:

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Secrecy News is written by Steven Aftergood and published by the Federation of American Scientists.

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