Downgrade

A determination by an appropriate authority that –

(1) information may be protected at a level lower than the current classification level or

(2) a document or material may be protected at a level and/or category lower than the marked classification level and/or category.

In either case, however, the revised classification level must not be lower than Confidential (or for foreign government information, lower than Confidential Foreign Government Information-Modified Handling Authorized).