How do I appeal an agency's denial of my mandatory declassification review request?

If an agency denies your Mandatory Declassification Review (MDR) request, the denial is not the end of the road. The executive order governing classification (Executive Order 13526) builds in an appeals process designed to give you a second look, and ultimately an independent review.

Start with the agency appeal

Most denial letters explain how and where to appeal. As a general rule:

• File a written appeal to the office named in the denial letter, within the deadline the agency states (commonly within a set number of days of receiving the denial).
• Reference your original request and the agency’s tracking or case number so your appeal is matched to the correct file.
• Explain why you believe the information no longer needs protection — for example, age, prior public release, or a change in circumstances. You do not have to prove your case, but a focused argument helps.

The agency must conduct an independent review of the contested material, typically by an official senior to the one who issued the original denial.

Escalate to ISCAP

If the agency upholds its denial on appeal, you may take the matter to the Interagency Security Classification Appeals Panel (ISCAP). ISCAP is an independent, government-wide panel that decides classification appeals and can order agencies to declassify information.

Key points to keep in mind:

• ISCAP generally reviews a case only after you have exhausted the agency’s own appeal process.
• File within the timeframe specified in the agency’s final response.
• ISCAP’s decisions are binding on agencies unless the President personally intervenes.

The Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO), part of the National Archives, supports ISCAP and publishes guidance on the process.

Practical tips

• Keep copies of every request, denial, and appeal, along with dates sent and received.
• Watch your deadlines — missing an appeal window can forfeit your right to escalate.
• Be specific about what you are appealing if only part of a document was withheld.

MDR is a separate track from the Freedom of Information Act, though the two sometimes overlap. Choosing MDR can be advantageous when your goal is purely to challenge a classification decision rather than to obtain a broad set of records.

For more background, see the declassification topic hub.