House task force presses agencies to release remaining JFK assassination records, seeks missing CIA file

The House Oversight and Reform Committee's Task Force on Declassification of Federal Records on March 18 held testimony calling for broader release of records related to President John F. Kennedy's 1963 assassination and pressing intelligence agencies to locate documents the panel says remain missing.

Chairwoman Luna, who leads the task force, said the group's aim is to "root out the hidden pockets of federal government" that have kept records from researchers and the public. "The task force on declassification of federal secrets is not here to provide the definitive account of what happened on 11/22/1963," she said, "but to push forward the release of information so these theories can be put to bed and so the American people can finally have truth."

The hearing combined testimony from former investigators, researchers and medical personnel who urged continued declassification and called attention to specific files the committee wants produced. Ranking Member Garcia said the March 18 National Archives release of more than 77,000 pages added "color and more information to the historical record," but urged the task force to work in a bipartisan way to keep pushing agencies for additional material.

Witnesses and former officials described long delays and partial compliance under previous review efforts, including the Assassination Records Review Board (ARRB) created under the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992. Judge John Tunheim, who chaired the ARRB, told the task force the ARRB operated under a congressional mandate that gave assassination records a "presumption of immediate disclosure" and that the board issued more than 27,000 rulings during its term.

Members repeatedly asked staff to pursue specific outstanding items. Chairwoman Luna and others said agency officials have told them that four of five outstanding CIA documents would be publicly released soon but that one file remains missing; witnesses and members identified that file in testimony using several names (e.g., "Joan Eades" and variations) and urged the committee to press the CIA for its recovery and release. The panel also asked the National Archives and outside parties (including NBC) to reassess footage and materials requested by the task force.

The hearing produced no formal vote but included unanimous consent requests entered on the record (for example, waivers for certain members to participate and letters to be included in the hearing record). Members said they will submit follow‑up inquiries and that staff will continue efforts to locate the specific files and footage discussed.

The task force signaled further action: members gave staff five legislative days to submit materials and questions, and leaders said they will pursue the outstanding CIA file, as well as related foreign files and media footage, in follow‑up work.