What important aspect does Executive Order 13526 emphasize regarding classified information?

Executive Order 13526 underscores the necessity for periodic review of classified information, which serves to ensure that documents designated as classified are evaluated regularly to determine whether they still warrant that status. This review process aims to protect national security while also balancing the need for transparency and the public's right to information. A key element of this order is the emphasis on not allowing classified status to persist indefinitely, which can prevent information that no longer poses a threat from being accessible to the public.

This aspect of periodic review is crucial because it establishes a systematic approach to reassessing the needs for classification over time, thus maintaining relevancy in the context of national security and evolving circumstances. By mandating this periodic review, the order helps to promote accountability in the classification process and minimize unnecessary secrecy.