Thing is, all classified documents have a built in expiration date determined by the classification authority. The default expiration date is 25 years and is automatic unless special permission is requested.
No. I've created several secret documents and they remained secret for 6 years before dropping one level (to confidential). There is no default of 25 years.
He's talking about
declassification procedures. There is an executive order detailing declassification after 25 years, for a lot of the documents. These EO's have been updated and issued since the 1950's
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_Order_13526
i know he is talking about declassification procedures.... and he is wrong. He said "all classified documents" and that "special permission is required". I will refer you to army regulation 380-5 Department of the Army Information Security Program. Go to page 10. Paragraph 2-11 Duration of Classification:
"Information will be declassified as soon as it no longer meets the standards for classification. Information will remain
classified as long as it is in the interest of national security and meets the criteria stated in this regulation. At the time
an item of information is originally classified, the original classifier must decide the length of time the information will
require classification and select an appropriate declassification date or event...." then on to subparagraphs:
"a. At the time of original classification, the original classification authority will attempt to establish a specific date
or event for declassification based upon the duration of the national security sensitivity of the information. The OCA
will attempt to determine a date, within ten years from the date of classification, upon which the information can be
automatically declassified. If that is not possible, they will attempt to determine a specific event, reasonably expected
to occur within 10 years, that can be set as the signal for automatic declassification of the information. This is referred
to as the “ten–year rule.” The date or event will not exceed the time frame in subparagraph c, below.
b. If information has originally been assigned a date or event for declassification of ten years or less, in accordance
with subparagraph a above, and the OCA later has reason to believe longer protection is required, the classification can
be extended for successive periods of up to ten years at a time, not to exceed the time period in subparagraph e, below,
where applicable.
c. If unable to determine a date or event that is ten years or less, the OCA will assign an exemption designation to
the information, if the information qualifies for exemption from automatic declassification in ten years. This could be
done if the unauthorized disclosure of the information could reasonably be expected to cause damage to the national
security, if specific information requires a period beyond 10 years from the date of original classification, and the
release of the information could reasonably be expected to result in one or more of the following..."
As you can see, 25 years does not apply to "all classified documents". Yes there are provisions for a 25-year declassification for such things that are deemed "permanently valuable records", but that does not apply to "all", nor is it the default.