---
kind: "section"
citation: "50 U.S.C. § 3235"
title: "50"
title_heading: "War and National Defense"
number: "3235"
heading: "Semiannual reports on investigations of unauthorized disclosures of classified information"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/50/3235"
units:
  - "Chapter 44 — National Security"
  - "Subchapter IX — Additional Miscellaneous Provisions"
---

# §3235. Semiannual reports on investigations of unauthorized disclosures of classified information

- (a) **Definitions—** In this section:
  - (1) **Covered official—** The term “covered official” means—
    - (A) the heads of each element of the [intelligence community](/usc/50/3003.md?p=4); and
    - (B) the inspectors general with oversight responsibility for an element of the [intelligence community](/usc/50/3003.md?p=4).
  - (2) **Investigation—** The term “investigation” means any inquiry, whether formal or informal, into the existence of an unauthorized public disclosure of classified information.
  - (3) **Unauthorized disclosure of classified information—** The term “unauthorized disclosure of classified information” means any unauthorized disclosure of classified information to any recipient.
  - (4) **Unauthorized public disclosure of classified information—** The term “unauthorized public disclosure of classified information” means the unauthorized disclosure of classified information to a journalist or media organization.
- (b) **Intelligence community reporting—**
  - (1) **In general—** Not less frequently than once every 6 months, each covered official shall submit to the [congressional intelligence committees](/usc/50/3003.md?p=7) a report on investigations of unauthorized public disclosures of classified information.
  - (2) **Elements—** Each report submitted under [paragraph (1)](#b-1) shall include, with respect to the preceding 6-month period, the following:
    - (A) The number of investigations opened by the covered official regarding an unauthorized public disclosure of classified information.
    - (B) The number of investigations completed by the covered official regarding an unauthorized public disclosure of classified information.
    - (C) Of the number of such completed investigations identified under [subparagraph (B)](#b-2-B), the number referred to the Attorney General for criminal investigation.
- (c) **Department of Justice reporting—**
  - (1) **In general—** Not less frequently than once every 6 months, the Assistant Attorney General for National Security of the Department of Justice, in consultation with the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, shall submit to the [congressional intelligence committees](/usc/50/3003.md?p=7), the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives a report on the status of each referral made to the Department of Justice from any element of the [intelligence community](/usc/50/3003.md?p=4) regarding an unauthorized disclosure of classified information made during the most recent 365-day period or any referral that has not yet been closed, regardless of the date the referral was made.
  - (2) **Contents—** Each report submitted under [paragraph (1)](#c-1) shall include, for each referral covered by the report, at a minimum, the following:
    - (A) The date the referral was received.
    - (B) A statement indicating whether the alleged unauthorized disclosure described in the referral was substantiated by the Department of Justice.
    - (C) A statement indicating the highest level of classification of the information that was revealed in the unauthorized disclosure.
    - (D) A statement indicating whether an open criminal investigation related to the referral is active.
    - (E) A statement indicating whether any criminal charges have been filed related to the referral.
    - (F) A statement indicating whether the Department of Justice has been able to attribute the unauthorized disclosure to a particular entity or individual.
- (d) **Form of reports—** Each report submitted under this section shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may have a classified annex.

## Source credit

(July 26, 1947, ch. 343, title XI, § 1105, as added Pub. L. 116–92, div. E, title LXVII, § 6718(a), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 2228.)