This page is dedicated to providing access to the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection, pursuant to Executive Order 14176. Signed on January 23, 2025, by President Donald J. Trump, this order mandates the declassification of records related to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection is an extensive archive containing over six million pages of documents, photographs, films, audio recordings, and artifacts related to the assassination. This online portal serves as a central location for accessing documents already released from this collection and will continue to be updated with newly available materials.
In Response to Executive Order 14176
Executive Order 14176: Declassification Mandate
Executive Order 14176, officially titled “Declassification of Records Concerning the Assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,” represents a significant step towards transparency. President Trump’s directive explicitly states, “[…] it is in the national interest to finally release all records related to these assassinations without delay.” This executive order underscores the commitment to making these historically important documents available to the American public. You can read the full text of Executive Order 14176 on the White House website.
The National Archives: Custodian and Facilitator
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) plays a crucial role as the custodian of the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection. In this capacity, the National Archives is responsible for ensuring these records are accessible to the American people in accordance with Executive Order 14176.
Importantly, all documents within the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection will be made accessible online through this dedicated webpage. While the National Archives manages the collection and its accessibility, it’s essential to note that NARA itself does not possess the authority to declassify records. The National Archives collaborates closely with various agencies across the Executive Branch to implement declassification decisions and facilitate the release of these important historical documents.
Online Access: How the National Archives Makes Records Available
The National Archives is actively prepared to receive and process declassification decisions from both the President and other United States Government agencies. As these decisions are made and records are digitized, the National Archives is committed to promptly posting these materials online, directly on this webpage, on a rolling basis. This ongoing process ensures that the public has timely access to the John F. Kennedy assassination records as they become available.
Existing Availability of JFK Assassination Records
It is important to recognize that a substantial portion of the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection is already publicly accessible. Comprising over six million pages, the vast majority of this collection has already undergone declassification and is available for public review, either online or through in-person research.
In 2023, the National Archives initiated a comprehensive project to digitize all records within the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection. This digitization effort is ongoing and has been further prioritized following the issuance of Executive Order 14176 to expedite online access.
For records that have not yet been digitized, individuals can still conduct research in person at the National Archives at College Park. Detailed information about planning a research visit is available on the Plan Your Research Visit webpage.
Previous Record Releases
The National Archives has conducted several releases of JFK Assassination Records in recent years. Links to these past releases are provided below for researchers and interested individuals. (See agency postponement documentation for further details regarding agency postponements).
2023 Release
2022 Release
2021 Release
2017-2018 Release
Current Online Resources
The National Archives is continually digitizing records from the JFK Assassination Records Collection and making them accessible online as the process progresses.
For the most up-to-date listing of digitized records from the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection currently available, please visit What is Currently Available Online. These records can be accessed directly through the National Archives Catalog.
Frequently Asked Questions and Further Information
To assist researchers and the public, the National Archives has compiled resources to answer common inquiries and provide additional context.
Frequently Asked Questions
Press Releases
Contribute to the JFK Assassination Records Transcription Mission
The National Archives invites public participation in enhancing access to these historical records through the Citizen Archivist program. Many documents within the Collection are ready for transcription to improve searchability and accessibility. Learn how to participate and sign up on the Citizen Archivist Missions page. Your transcription efforts directly contribute to making these records more readily discoverable and usable for everyone.
Contact Information
For inquiries and further assistance, please use the contact information provided below.
Reference Inquiries
Email: [email protected]
Media Inquiries
Email: [email protected]
Image Credit: Detail of portrait of John F. Kennedy, White House Historical Association/White House Collection. Used with permission.
