On January 23, 2025, President Donald J. Trump issued an executive order mandating the declassification of all remaining government records related to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This decision underscores the administration’s commitment to transparency, acknowledging that over half a century after these pivotal events, both the victims’ families and the American public deserve full disclosure.
The executive order references the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992, which required the complete public release of all records concerning President Kennedy’s assassination by October 26, 2017, unless specific postponements were justified. While previous administrations, including Trump’s first term and President Biden’s tenure, had authorized delays citing potential harms to national security, the current order emphasizes that continued withholding is no longer consistent with the public interest.
The directive stipulates that within 15 days, the Director of National Intelligence and the Attorney General, in collaboration with the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs and the Counsel to the President, must present a comprehensive plan for the full release of records related to President Kennedy’s assassination. Additionally, within 45 days, a similar plan is required for the records concerning the assassinations of Senator Robert F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
This move aims to address longstanding public interest and speculation surrounding these historical events, ensuring that all related records are made available without further delay.