Event

Release of the withheld Kennedy assassination records, 2017 to 2026

The National Archives’ releases, from July 2017 to January 2026, of Kennedy assassination records that agencies had withheld in full or in part.

9 links, 5 backed by primary records

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Dates: 24 Jul 2017 – 30 Jan 2026

Connections 9

involved

United States government Released the records through the National Archives Primary record 1 2 3 4
Central Intelligence Agency With the FBI, made the most requests to keep some records secret in 2017, White House officials told the AP According to United States government Scholarship & press 5
Federal Bureau of Investigation Found more records after a 2020 inventory and delivered them to the Archives in 2025; released with grand jury redactions Primary record 3
J. Edgar Hoover His memo of 24 November 1963, in the 2017 release, wanted “something issued so we can convince the public” Scholarship & press 6
Central Intelligence Agency A 1991 CIA station memo, in the 2025 release, relays a KGB officer’s view that Oswald was never a KGB agent Scholarship & press 7
Federal Bureau of Investigation With the CIA, made the most requests to keep some records secret in 2017, White House officials told the AP According to United States government Scholarship & press 5
Central Intelligence Agency One of the agencies whose withheld records were released Primary record 1
Federal Bureau of Investigation One of the agencies whose withheld records were released Primary record 1

followed from

President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 Primary record 8
The Act required postponed records to open by 2017 unless the President certified a specific harm.

Timeline 1 date

24 Jul 2017 – 30 Jan 2026 Release of the withheld Kennedy assassination records, 2017 to 2026

Proof 8 sources

JFK Assassination Records - 2017-2018 Additional Documents Release, U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. Primary record
The National Archives is releasing documents previously withheld in accordance with the JFK Assassination Records Collection Act.
These releases include FBI, CIA, and other agency documents
JFK Assassination Records - 2023 Additional Documents Release, U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. Primary record
NARA worked in concert with agencies to jointly review the remaining redactions in 3,648 documents in compliance with the President's directive.
JFK Assassination Records - 2025 Documents Release, U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. Primary record
all records previously withheld for classification that are part of the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection are released.
On February 20, 2025 the FBI delivered the JFK records located as of that date to NARA, including documents, photographs, audio, and video.
there are redactions for grand jury information as outlined in section 10 of the JFK Act
Last of the classified JFK assassination files released, NPR, 18 Mar 2025. Scholarship & press
Thousands of documents related to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy were made public late Tuesday, but it's unclear what revelations they could bring.
Trump is withholding some of the new JFK files, PBS News (Associated Press), 26 Oct 2017. Scholarship & press
White House officials said the FBI and CIA made the most requests within the government to withhold some information.
JFK files release does little to quell conspiracy theories, PBS News (Associated Press), 28 Oct 2017. Scholarship & press
Hoover said he and a deputy were concerned about "having something issued so we can convince the public that Oswald is the real assassin."
JFK files send history buffs hunting for new clues, PBS News (Associated Press), 19 Mar 2025. Scholarship & press
confident that Oswald was at no time an agent controlled by the KGB.
Final Report of the Assassination Records Review Board, U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, 1998. Primary record
the JFK Act mandated that all postponed assassination records be opened to the public no later than the year 2017 (25 years from the date of enactment of the JFK Act).

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