Reagan NSDD 84: Lifetime Censorship for 100,000+ Government Employees
President Reagan signs National Security Decision Directive #84, requiring all government employees with security clearances (over 100,000 people) to submit to lifetime prepublication censorship of anything they write. Polygraph tests authorized for leak investigations. Extends secrecy apparatus significantly, affecting potential UFO whistleblowers. Congress forces partial rollback but core provisions remain.
Background
1. On March 11, 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed National Security Decision Directive #84. This directive mandated lifetime prepublication censorship for over 100,000 government employees with security clearances. It also authorized polygraph tests for leak investigations, expanding the existing secrecy apparatus.
The Incident President Reagan signed National Security Decision Directive #84 on March 11, 1983. This directive impacted a significant number of government employees. The directive required over 100,000 individuals with security clearances to submit anything they wrote for prepublication censorship for the rest of their lives.
The directive also authorized the use of polygraph tests in investigations related to leaks of classified information. This measure further strengthened the government's ability to control the flow of information. The directive effectively extended the existing secrecy apparatus within the government.