On Sept. 23, 2009, Attorney General Eric Holder issued a memorandum instituting new Department of Justice policies and procedures for using the Executive state secrets privilege. The policy, which parallels several related recommendations from the Moving Toward a 21st Century Right-to-Know Agenda, will be implemented on Oct. 1.  Despite some critics who feel it does not sufficiently limit the privilege, others see the changes as a good start.

OMB Watch has additional details and analysis.