---
kind: "section"
citation: "44 U.S.C. § 2208"
title: "44"
title_heading: "Public Printing and Documents"
number: "2208"
heading: "Claims of constitutionally based privilege against disclosure"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/44/2208"
units:
  - "Chapter 22 — Presidential Records"
---

# §2208. Claims of constitutionally based privilege against disclosure

- (a)
  - (1) When the [Archivist](/usc/44/2201.md?p=4) determines under this chapter to make available to the public any Presidential record that has not previously been made available to the public, the [Archivist](/usc/44/2201.md?p=4) shall—
    - (A) promptly provide notice of such determination to—
      - (i) the [former President](/usc/44/2201.md?p=5) during whose term of office the record was created; and
      - (ii) the incumbent President; and
    - (B) make the notice available to the public.
  - (2) The notice under [paragraph (1)](#a-1)—
    - (A) shall be in writing; and
    - (B) shall include such information as may be prescribed in regulations issued by the [Archivist](/usc/44/2201.md?p=4).
  - (3)
    - (A) Upon the expiration of the 60-day period (excepting Saturdays, Sundays, and legal public holidays) beginning on the date the [Archivist](/usc/44/2201.md?p=4) provides notice under [paragraph (1)(A)](#a-1-A), the [Archivist](/usc/44/2201.md?p=4) shall make available to the public the Presidential record covered by the notice, except any record (or reasonably segregable part of a record) with respect to which the [Archivist](/usc/44/2201.md?p=4) receives from a [former President](/usc/44/2201.md?p=5) or the incumbent President notification of a claim of constitutionally based privilege against disclosure under [subsection (b)](#b).
    - (B) A [former President](/usc/44/2201.md?p=5) or the incumbent President may extend the period under [subparagraph (A)](#a-3-A) once for not more than 30 additional days (excepting Saturdays, Sundays, and legal public holidays) by filing with the [Archivist](/usc/44/2201.md?p=4) a statement that such an extension is necessary to allow an adequate review of the record.
    - (C) Notwithstanding subparagraphs [(A)](#a-3-A) and [(B)](#a-3-B), if the 60-day period under [subparagraph (A)](#a-3-A), or any extension of that period under [subparagraph (B)](#a-3-B), would otherwise expire during the 6-month period after the incumbent President first takes office, then that 60-day period or extension, respectively, shall expire at the end of that 6-month period.
- (b)
  - (1) For purposes of this section, the decision to assert any claim of constitutionally based privilege against disclosure of a Presidential record (or reasonably segregable part of a record) must be made personally by a [former President](/usc/44/2201.md?p=5) or the incumbent President, as applicable.
  - (2) A [former President](/usc/44/2201.md?p=5) or the incumbent President shall notify the [Archivist](/usc/44/2201.md?p=4), the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate of a privilege claim under [paragraph (1)](#b-1) on the same day that the claim is asserted under such paragraph.
- (c)
  - (1) If a claim of constitutionally based privilege against disclosure of a Presidential record (or reasonably segregable part of a record) is asserted under [subsection (b)](#b) by a [former President](/usc/44/2201.md?p=5), the [Archivist](/usc/44/2201.md?p=4) shall consult with the incumbent President, as soon as practicable during the period specified in [paragraph (2)(A)](#c-2-A), to determine whether the incumbent President will uphold the claim asserted by the [former President](/usc/44/2201.md?p=5).
  - (2)
    - (A) Not later than the end of the 30-day period beginning on the date on which the [Archivist](/usc/44/2201.md?p=4) receives notification from a [former President](/usc/44/2201.md?p=5) of the assertion of a claim of constitutionally based privilege against disclosure, the [Archivist](/usc/44/2201.md?p=4) shall provide notice to the [former President](/usc/44/2201.md?p=5) and the public of the decision of the incumbent President under [paragraph (1)](#c-1) regarding the claim.
    - (B) If the incumbent President upholds the claim of privilege asserted by the [former President](/usc/44/2201.md?p=5), the [Archivist](/usc/44/2201.md?p=4) shall not make the Presidential record (or reasonably segregable part of a record) subject to the claim publicly available unless—
      - (i) the incumbent President withdraws the decision upholding the claim of privilege asserted by the [former President](/usc/44/2201.md?p=5); or
      - (ii) the [Archivist](/usc/44/2201.md?p=4) is otherwise directed by a final court order that is not subject to appeal.
    - (C) If the incumbent President determines not to uphold the claim of privilege asserted by the [former President](/usc/44/2201.md?p=5), or fails to make the determination under [paragraph (1)](#c-1) before the end of the period specified in [subparagraph (A)](#c-2-A), the [Archivist](/usc/44/2201.md?p=4) shall release the Presidential record subject to the claim at the end of the 90-day period beginning on the date on which the [Archivist](/usc/44/2201.md?p=4) received notification of the claim, unless otherwise directed by a court order in an action initiated by the [former President](/usc/44/2201.md?p=5) under [section 2204(e) of this title](/usc/44/2204.md?p=e) or by a court order in another action in any Federal court.
- (d) The [Archivist](/usc/44/2201.md?p=4) shall not make publicly available a Presidential record (or reasonably segregable part of a record) that is subject to a privilege claim asserted by the incumbent President unless—
  - (1) the incumbent President withdraws the privilege claim; or
  - (2) the [Archivist](/usc/44/2201.md?p=4) is otherwise directed by a final court order that is not subject to appeal.
- (e) The [Archivist](/usc/44/2201.md?p=4) shall adjust any otherwise applicable time period under this section as necessary to comply with the return date of any congressional subpoena, judicial subpoena, or judicial process.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 113–187, § 2(a)(1), Nov. 26, 2014, 128 Stat. 2003.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Change of Name

Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Oversight and Reform of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, Jan. 9, 2019. Committee on Oversight and Reform of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Oversight and Accountability of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Eighteenth Congress, Jan. 9, 2023.