The protection of classified national security and other controlled information is of concern to both the executive branch—which, for the most part, determines what information is classified and controlled—and Congress. The legislature uses such information to fulfill its constitutional responsibilities, particularly overseeing the executive, appropriating funds, and legislating public policy. Congress has established numerous mechanisms to safeguard controlled information in its custody, although these arrangements have varied over time, between the two chambers, and among offices in each. Both chambers, for instance, have created offices of security to consolidate relevant responsibilities. In addition, each chamber maintains its own security manual that establishes the policies for safeguarding information in the chamber’s possession and the procedures for granting its staff access to classified materials. Other differences exist at the committee level, regarding the availability and use of information in committees’ custody. Further, each chamber of Congress has cybersecurity and other protective policies to secure its communication and information systems from unauthorized access, use, or disruption.
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