[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 14, Volume 5]
[Revised as of January 1, 2005]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 14CFR1203.200]

[Page 13]
 
                     TITLE 14--AERONAUTICS AND SPACE
 
                   CHAPTER V--NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND
                          SPACE ADMINISTRATION
 
PART 1203_INFORMATION SECURITY PROGRAM--Table of Contents
 
               Subpart B_NASA Information Security Program
 
Sec. 1203.200  Background and discussion.


    (a) In establishing a civilian space program, the Congress required 
NASA to ``provide for the widest practicable and appropriate 
dissemination of information concerning its activities and the results 
thereof,'' and for the withholding from public inspection of that 
information that is classified to protect the national security.
    (b) In recognition of the essential requirement for an informed 
public concerning the activities of its Government, as well as the need 
to protect certain national security information from unauthorized 
disclosure, ``the Order'' was promulgated. It designates the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration certain responsibility for matters 
pertaining to national security and confers on the Administrator of 
NASA, or such responsible officers or employees as the Administrator may 
designate, the authority for original classification of official 
information or material which requires protection in the interest of 
national security. It also provides for:
    (1) Basic classification, downgrading and declassification 
guidelines;
    (2) The issuance of directives prescribing the procedures to be 
followed in safeguarding classified information or material;
    (3) A monitoring system to ensure the effectiveness of the Order;
    (4) Appropriate administrative sanctions against officers and 
employees of the United States Government who are found to be in 
violation of the Order or implementing directive; and
    (5) Classification limitations and restrictions as discussed in 
Sec. Sec. 1203.410 and 1203.411.
    (c) ``The Order'' requires the timely identification and protection 
of that NASA information the disclosure of which would be contrary to 
the best interest of national security. Accordingly, the determination 
in each case must be based on a judgment as to whether disclosure of 
information could reasonably be expected to result in damage to the 
national security.

[44 FR 34913, June 18, 1979, as amended at 48 FR 5889, Feb. 9, 1983]