Pentagon restricts access to classified military documents — media
The Pentagon has restricted access to a years-long archive of classified military documents in an internal US computer system. As the Jerusalem Post reports, citing The Washington Post, documents related to the US secretary of defense’s order book were removed from the internal SIPRNet portal.
The Washington Post learned of the access change from three informed sources who spoke on condition of anonymity. It is unknown whether these documents remain available to the US military through other means and how the restriction could affect military planning.
What data the documents contain
The SIPRNet network contains information classified as “secret,” while materials with a higher level of classification are stored in other systems to which fewer people have access. The order book contains data on the location and availability of US military ships, units, weapons systems and other resources.
According to The Washington Post, this mechanism also allows senior military officials to formally register their disagreement with an order while continuing to carry it out. This procedure is known as non-concurring.
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Commanders’ concerns
Earlier, The Washington Post reported that several senior US commanders expressed concerns in a classified August 14 edition of the order book regarding the continuation of large-scale operations against Iran. According to the newspaper, they warned that a prolonged war could weaken the US military’s ability to respond to threats in other regions.
According to the publication, the documents concerned extending the deployment of some US service members in the Middle East until September and others until 2027. Those who registered their disagreement reportedly included US European Command chief General Alexus Grynkewich, US Southern Command chief General Francis Donovan, Pacific Command chief Admiral Samuel Paparo, and Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Daryl Caudle.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell declined to discuss the reported access change but did not deny that it had occurred. A former Defense Department official told The Washington Post that removing the documents from SIPRNet or transferring them to systems with a higher level of classification would significantly reduce the number of people with direct access. According to him, this could complicate urgent decision-making, including on moving aircraft and weapons between commands.
