United States Code
USC most recently checked for updates: Jun 09, 2025
§ 40119.
Sensitive security information
(a)
(1)
Notwithstanding the establishment of a Department of Homeland Security, the Secretary of Transportation, in accordance with section 552(b)(3)(B) of title 5, shall prescribe regulations prohibiting disclosure of information obtained or developed in ensuring security under this title if the Secretary of Transportation decides disclosing the information would—
(A)
be an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy;
(B)
reveal a trade secret or privileged or confidential commercial or financial information; or
(C)
be detrimental to transportation safety.
(2)
Paragraph (1) shall not be construed to authorize information to be withheld from a committee of Congress authorized to have such information.
(3)
Nothing in paragraph (1) shall be construed to authorize the designation of information as sensitive security information (as such term is defined in section 15.5 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations) to—
(A)
conceal a violation of law, inefficiency, or administrative error;
(B)
prevent embarrassment to a person, organization, or agency;
(C)
restrain competition; or
(D)
prevent or delay the release of information that does not require protection in the interest of transportation security, including basic scientific research information not clearly related to transportation security.
(4)
Section 552a of title 5 shall not apply to disclosures that the Administrator may make from the systems of records of the Federal Aviation Administration to any Federal law enforcement, intelligence, protective service, immigration, or national security official in order to assist the official receiving the information in the performance of official duties.
(b)
Except as otherwise provided by law, a duty or power under this section may not be transferred to another department, agency, or instrumentality of the Federal Government.
cite as: 49 USC 40119
