NSDD Directive 189, issued on September 21, 1985, outlines the United States national policy regarding the dissemination of scientific, technical, and engineering information derived from federally funded fundamental research at academic and research institutions. The directive defines fundamental research as basic and applied research in science and engineering whose results are ordinarily published and broadly shared within the scientific community, distinguishing it from proprietary or classified research where results are restricted for national security or commercial reasons.
The directive was developed in response to concerns that the transfer of advanced technology to Eastern Bloc nations could threaten U.S. national security, although studies indicated that open scientific exchanges at universities played only a minor role in such transfers. In balancing the need for national security with the essential openness of scientific advancement, the policy states that the outputs of fundamental research should remain as unrestricted as possible. However, if national security requires, the only mechanism for restricting information from such research is through official classification. Federal agencies are tasked with determining before funding whether classification is necessary and must manage and periodically review research for potential classification. Importantly, unless research has been officially classified, there can be no restrictions on the conduct or reporting of federally funded fundamental research, except as mandated by law. This framework seeks to protect national interests while maintaining an open and creative research environment crucial to scientific progress.
