The Declassification of the JFK Files: A Step Toward Transparency in American History

On March 18, 2025, a significant moment in U.S. history unfolded with the release of long-awaited files related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, following a directive from President Donald Trump. This release, which complies with the President’s March 17 directive and supports Executive Order 14176, represents a critical step toward fulfilling the promises of transparency set forth decades ago. With these files now publicly accessible online or in person at the National Archives in College Park, Maryland, the American public is poised to gain new insights into one of the most enigmatic events of the 20th century.

A New Era of Openness

The declassification process, driven by President Trump’s executive order, marks the culmination of a legal and political journey that began with the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992. This Act was originally passed to ensure the full public release of all records related to the assassination by October 26, 2017. However, the release was delayed for years, with multiple certifications issued by Presidents Trump and Biden to extend the withholding of certain sensitive information.

In January, when President Trump signed an executive order to release the remaining classified files related to JFK’s assassination, he promised Americans that “everything will be revealed.” On March 18, he made good on at least part of that vow, ordering the dissemination of a large cache of JFK-related files. Historians and assassination experts immediately began poring over the 2,182 unredacted records—amounting to nearly 64,000 pages—to determine what, if anything, was new. The initial review shows a mix of both expected revelations and some surprising details.

What’s Inside the Files?

Trump’s announcement on March 17 that “all of the Kennedy files” would be released the next day kicked off a flurry of activity at the Justice Department to meet the deadline. The released documents, organized in a somewhat chaotic fashion, have already sparked a wave of analysis. While Trump had promised there would be no redactions, an early review by the New York Times revealed that some information had indeed been blocked out, particularly material related to CIA intelligence operations.

However, some JFK assassination experts have already identified valuable new insights. Jefferson Morley, a leading authority on the topic, highlighted the release as an “encouraging start,” pointing out records that shed new light on JFK’s mistrust of the CIA, the surveillance of Lee Harvey Oswald, and CIA propaganda operations. The documents also provide granular details of mid-20th-century espionage, including specific instructions for CIA operatives on wiretapping and using chemicals to mark phone devices.

One of the most intriguing discoveries was an unredacted version of a 1961 memo by Arthur Schlesinger, in which he advised President Kennedy to rein in the CIA after the Bay of Pigs fiasco. Previously redacted portions revealed that Schlesinger warned the CIA was growing too powerful, operating almost like a “state within a state,” with “nearly as many people under official cover overseas as the State Department.”

Other finds include internal CIA memos detailing their efforts to identify and remove listening devices, including one from a CIA official who would later play a significant role in the Watergate scandal.

What Could Still Be Lurking?

While these new revelations are exciting, questions remain about what could still be hidden in the government’s vaults. Historians and researchers have long speculated about the existence of even more explosive documents. For example, former JFK aide William Manchester’s tapes of interviews with Jacqueline Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy in the months after the assassination are still sealed until 2067, a timeline that has fueled public curiosity about their contents.

Additionally, a 2023 report from Axios revealed the existence of 2,400 documents that had never been handed over to a review board tasked with assessing the release of JFK-related materials. These documents were unearthed in part because of Trump’s order to declassify any remaining files. Whether these documents will be released in the future remains unclear.

The Public’s Reaction

The release of the files has sparked both excitement and skepticism. While some, like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have applauded the decision, citing the need for greater government transparency, others have voiced concern over the quality and completeness of the release. In particular, some members of the public, like William A. Harnage, have expressed frustration at the unintentional release of private information, such as Social Security numbers, in some of the newly declassified documents.

Even with some documents still redacted or withheld, the release represents a significant shift in the level of transparency regarding the Kennedy assassination. However, this doesn’t mark the end of the story. The House Oversight Committee, led by Representative Anna Paulina Luna, has formed a new task force aimed at expanding declassification efforts to include records related to other high-profile events, such as the 9/11 attacks, UFOs, and the origins of COVID-19.

A Legacy of Secrecy and Truth

As the files continue to be examined, the broader implications of these revelations for the American public and its trust in government are profound. For decades, the official narrative of the Kennedy assassination, upheld by the Warren Commission, concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. However, alternate theories have persisted, and many remain unconvinced that the full truth has been revealed.

The release of these files may not offer definitive answers, but it is a crucial step toward transparency. Historians and researchers will continue to sift through the 64,000 pages of newly released records, and while there may not be any bombshell revelations in this batch, each new document brings us closer to understanding the events that shaped the course of American history.

The release of the JFK files serves as a powerful reminder that the quest for truth is a fundamental part of our democracy. The journey toward understanding the past continues, and with it, the hope that the full story of the Kennedy assassination—and the events surrounding it—will one day be completely revealed.