Information security

Trump orders new policy on unmasking Americans in spy reports

President Donald Trump is giving U.S. intelligence agencies 30 days to publicly release policy outlining procedures for responding to requests for "unmasking," or naming Americans listed in classified, redacted reports.

Trump's order followed a letter that Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats wrote last month to Congress. Coats told lawmakers he would tighten rules for providing government officials the identities of Americans concealed in intelligence reports. Coats' policy would aim to toughen existing safeguards to ensure that names aren't disclosed for political reasons, especially during presidential transitions.

Many Republicans have claimed the Obama administration improperly released the identities of members of Trump's presidential transition team mentioned in intelligence reports, putting their safety at risk. Democrats insisted there was no evidence the identities of any Trump transition officials were improperly revealed. They said tough rules already have been in place.