Trump Administration Makes Good On Major Promise

The Trump administration has declassified 80,000 pages of JFK assassination files, fulfilling a decades-long quest for transparency about one of America’s most enduring historical mysteries.

Top Takeaways

The Trump administration has released 80,000 pages of previously classified JFK assassination files with minimal redactions.
President Trump directed the release through Executive Order 14176, which also covers files related to Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy assassinations.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard confirmed the files are being released with “no redactions,” though some personal information and details about “live assets in Cuba” will be protected.
The documents include information about Lee Harvey Oswald’s activities, including a note that he was considered a “poor shot” and details about his contacts with Cuban and Soviet intelligence.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer and Rep. Anna Paulina Luna have praised the move as part of a larger transparency initiative.

Trump Administration Opens Historical Archives

The National Archives has begun the process of making public 80,000 pages of previously classified JFK assassination files following President Donald Trump’s directive. The massive document release fulfills a promise made by Trump to provide Americans with unprecedented access to information about the 1963 assassination that has fueled decades of speculation and conspiracy theories. The documents include handwritten notes and typewritten reports, many of which are old, faded, and difficult to read.

While Trump instructed that the files be released without redactions, some documents will maintain limited redactions to protect personal information and “live assets in Cuba.” The document release process will take several days due to the large volume of materials involved. Files currently sealed due to court orders or grand jury secrecy rules will require additional legal procedures before they can be made public.

Presidential Commitment to Transparency

The release represents the culmination of efforts that span multiple administrations. While President Biden released some documents during his term, he postponed others citing complications from the pandemic. Trump had previously blocked the release of some records following appeals from the CIA and FBI, but his current administration has taken a more comprehensive approach to transparency.

President Trump is ushering in a new era of maximum transparency. Today, per his direction, previously redacted JFK Assassination Files are being released to the public with no redactions. Promises made, promises kept. https://t.co/UnG1vkgxjX pic.twitter.com/XBbkQfz4Bx

— DNI Tulsi Gabbard (@DNIGabbard) March 18, 2025

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has been instrumental in implementing the president’s directive. She noted that much of the information has already been seen by grand juries from years ago, but emphasized the importance of making these documents directly available to the American public. The files are accessible through the National Archive’s website, allowing researchers and interested citizens to examine them firsthand.

Congressional Support and Historical Significance

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer and Rep. Anna Paulina Luna have strongly endorsed the declassification effort. Luna leads a task force focused on declassifying federal secrets, which includes files related to the Kennedy assassination as well as other historically significant matters such as the Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy assassinations.

While historians don’t expect major revelations that would drastically change the established narrative about Kennedy’s assassination, they anticipate additional details that could provide valuable context. Some documents detail Lee Harvey Oswald’s activities and contacts with Cuban and Soviet intelligence, including an interesting note that Oswald was considered a “poor shot.” Another document contains a letter from a Russian individual who claimed to have warned US officials in August 1963 about Oswald’s intentions.

Part of a Broader Transparency Initiative

The JFK file release is part of a larger Republican commitment to declassifying government secrets. The initiative also extends to documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, UFOs, and other historical events that have remained shrouded in secrecy. Rep. Luna has even suggested there might have been “two shooters” in JFK’s assassination, a theory that some researchers might find support for in the newly released documents.

Chairman Comer and Rep. Luna have requested a detailed briefing on the documents related to the Executive Order, signaling continued congressional oversight of the transparency process. For many Americans who have waited decades for complete access to these historical records, the release marks a significant step toward finally uncovering the full truth about one of the most pivotal moments in American history.