Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks recently signed a new classification policy for space programs. The updated policy moves away from the utilization of Special Access Program status (SAPs), a label that has traditionally limited security clearance to a select few. The intention is to make presently classified programs available to a broader range of stakeholders, including US allies and industry partners, per a senior official.
John Plumb, DoD Assistant Secretary for Space Policy, explained that the now outdated legacy document, which guided the policy until now, is no longer viable in the current context related to national security space. Though the fresh policy specifics remain classified, it is known that the overuse of SAPs and subsequent barrier to information sharing between various Defense Department organizations, allies, and industry is a pressing issue.
Essentially, the new policy aims to depreciate the usage of SAPs, facilitating a transition from SAP to Top-Secret level, which will not only enhance the value for the warfighter and the department but will hopefully allow increased information sharing with partners and allies.
Explicitly, the DoD will now assign minimum classifications to a variety of elements. This will enable individual services to assess their programs and scrutinize whether they should continue being tagged as SAPs. Plumb also stressed that policy alone should not be a reason to categorize something within a SAP. There must be technical aspects to it.
However, Plumb added that the new policy does not involve declassifying information in relation to the DoD’s plans for conducting warfare in space. Plumb’s main concern is about addressing issues where over-classification hampers the ability to execute tasks or impairs the mission of the warfighter.
It’s expected that the implementation of this new approach will demand some time to filter down through bureaucracy and gain acceptance. Nonetheless, many individuals are enthusiastic and ready to embark on this new direction.
This new policy is a stepping stone towards a broader effort by Plumb’s office to develop the “DoD International Space Cooperation Strategy,”. A strategy intended to facilitate more seamless collective military space operations by the US, its allies, and partners.
Already, the Pentagon has extended its “Combined Space Operations Initiative (CSpO)” from seven to ten members, recently adding Italy, Japan, and Norway. This further emphasizes the increasing global focus and collective efforts related to space operations.