Mandatory Declassification Review (MDR)
A process under EO 13526 allowing any person to request that an agency review a specific classified record for declassification and release whatever no longer needs protection.
Mandatory declassification review (MDR) is one of the three main pathways for declassifying U.S. national security information. Under Executive Order 13526, it lets any member of the public request that an agency review a specific classified record and declassify and release whatever portion no longer requires protection.
The requester must identify the record with enough specificity for the agency to locate it. The agency reviews the record, releases what it can (often redacting what must stay protected), and refers any other agencies’ equities for their review. MDR includes appeal rights, ultimately to the Interagency Security Classification Appeals Panel (ISCAP). It differs from a FOIA request in that it is specific to classified national security information and uses the classification system’s own review and appeal process. It sits alongside automatic declassification (generally at 25 years) and systematic review.