00:00As you know, we live in a dynamic and dangerous threat environment where access to and accumulation of closely held
00:08information is key to understanding our world.
00:11The unauthorized disclosure of sensitive War Department information has the very real potential to cause exceptionally grave damage to our
00:19national security and the operational integrity of our armed forces.
00:23To leak sensitive national defense information and secrets betrays the men and women who wear our nation's uniform.
00:33It's a principle as old as war.
00:35And in the United States goes back to the founding of our republic.
00:38George Washington himself battled leaks, insider threats, and espionage.
00:44When a leak of department information occurs today, it's critical that we provide the Department of Justice and other partners
00:51in federal law enforcement,
00:52including the FBI, with actionable information as quickly as possible.
00:58And that's why the Department of War and the Department of Justice have created a joint task force to identify
01:04and prosecute leakers.
01:07I'd like to thank Acting Attorney General Blanche for his help in this important project.
01:13I'm proud that our departments are working together closer than we have ever before, committing manpower and new resources to
01:20protect our warfighters and their operations.
01:24To combat the dangers that leaks pose effective immediately, I have delegated tasking authority to the War Department's Office of
01:31General Counsel,
01:33empowering OGC to request and receive all information, records, and support across the department concerning media leak investigations.
01:41All department components and personnel will prioritize these requests,
01:46and any taskings issued by OGC under this authority must receive a full and complete response within 48 hours of
01:54issuance.
01:56Leaked information risks lives.
01:59These new tools and processes will greatly assist us in protecting our joint force.
02:14Again, I want to thank Acting Attorney General Blanche and our federal law enforcement partners for working with us on
02:28these investigations to protect and safeguard America's national security.
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