Top intel official warns 'deficiencies' in classification system pose national security threat

Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines warns "deficiencies" in the government's classification system pose a national security threat.

In a scathing rebuke of the nation's current classification procedures, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines has told lawmakers that the current system classifies so much information it puts national security at risk -- because of how long it can take to process.

"It is my view that deficiencies in the current classification system undermine our national security, as well as critical democratic objectives, by impeding our ability to share information in a timely manner, be that sharing with our intelligence partners, our oversight bodies, or, when appropriate, with the general public," she writes in a letter dated Jan. 5 and sent to Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Jerry Moran, R-Kan.

The classification system, she wrote, reduces the intelligence communities capacity to "effectively support senior policy maker decision making, and further erodes the basic trust our citizens have in their government."

The challenge on how to protect national security information, but appropriately share it is not a new challenge, nor is it easy, she said.