What did the declassified documents reveal?

COLD OPEN: This is a declassified document from the Office of the Secretary of Defense, released under the Freedom of Information Act. The document, dated July 23, 1987, is a directive on the use of chemical and biological agents in warfare. It was declassified in full authority by the Chief, Records and Declassification Division, WHS, on July 30, 2024. PROVENANCE: The document was released through the Black Vault, a non-profit organization that specializes in declassifying government records. The canonical PDF can be found at the Black Vault's website, and the document is also available through the National Archives. THE DOCUMENT: Department of Defense Directive S-3145.2, dated July 23, 1987, was issued by the Office of the Secretary of Defense. The directive establishes U.S. national policy and sets forth procedures within the Department of Defense for planning the employment of lethal and incapacitating chemical agents during the time of war or hostilities. The directive states that the U.S. reservation to the Geneva Protocol of 1925 allows for retaliation with chemical agents against a violator, even if U.S. forces are not directly attacked. The U.S. military capability to employ chemical agents should include the ability to survive and maintain military operations in a chemical warfare environment, the ability to retaliate with chemical agents in response to chemical, toxin, or biological agent use, and the ability to maintain retaliatory chemical operations in the face of chemical, toxin, and biological agent use. The directive also notes that the U.S. does not possess biological or toxin agents, but will maintain the military capability to employ chemical agents in retaliation to chemical, toxin, or biological agent use. Chemical agents play a critical, although limited, role in U.S. defense, and their use should be tactical and targeted to avoid civilian casualties. The use of chemical agents in response to enemy use of chemical, toxin, or biological agents requires the approval of the President of the United States. The Secretary of Defense may authorize the deployment of chemical agents from CONUS storage depots and Johnston Atoll, unless suspended by the President or by a declaration of a national emergency. CONTEXT: The directive was issued by the Office of the Secretary of Defense and is part of the Department of Defense's policy on the use of chemical and biological agents in warfare. The directive is consistent with U.S. national policy and international law, including the Geneva Protocol of 1925. OUTRO: This is what the public record looks like at its most ordinary. The document provides a glimpse into the U.S. military's policy on the use of chemical and biological agents in warfare, and highlights the complexities and nuances of international law and national security policy. The document is available in its entirety on the Black Vault's website, at documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/osd/20-M-0534.pdf.

Why was this case declassified?

This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process.

Osd Mandatory Declassification Release (case 20 M 0534)

◆ BLUF — The short version

COLD OPEN: This is a declassified document from the Office of the Secretary of Defense, released under the Freedom of Information Act. The document, dated July 23, 1987, is a directive on the use of chemical and biological agents in warfare.

Date: JUL 5 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)

↯ Dispatch — press play3:46

0:003:46

↯ Share

X in r/

Episode notes

Questions about this case

What was Osd Mandatory Declassification Release (case 20 M 0534) about?: COLD OPEN: This is a declassified document from the Office of the Secretary of Defense, released under the Freedom of Information Act. The document, dated July 23, 1987, is a directive on the use of chemical and biological agents in warfare.
Why was this case declassified?: This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. Storyflo narrates it directly from the public release.

war-records

Related cases

✉ Dispatches

A short dispatch when a new file is released — narrated, answer-first, and linked straight to the primary source. No spam; unsubscribe anytime.

↯ Subscribe to the feed

RSS feed Browse all cases

Osd Mandatory Declassification Release (case 20 M 0534)

Questions about this case

Related cases

Operation Northwoods

Military Technology And The Survival Of Cities DOD January 1963)

Rand: Have We Reached The End Of History?

Declassified case file

DOD FOIA Release (case 21 Fr 0964)

Questions about this case

Related cases

Operation Northwoods

Military Technology And The Survival Of Cities DOD January 1963)

Rand: Have We Reached The End Of History?

Declassified case file

DOD FOIA Release (case 21 Fr 0964)

Get the next declassified case in your inbox