MLK Jr. FBI Surveillance Records — 2025 Release

6,302 documents

Source agency: naraRelease year: 2025

FBI surveillance records on the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. disclosed by the National Archives in 2025 pursuant to Executive Order 14176.

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About this collection

Documents in the MLK Jr. FBI Surveillance Records — 2025 Release collection were released by the National Archives as part of ongoing declassification programs. Each file retains its original NARA Record Identification Number so it can be cross-referenced against academic and journalistic citations. Use the pagination below to walk the full 6,302-record list, or jump to any individual document for metadata and an in-browser PDF preview.

Frequently asked questions

What is the MLK 2025 release?

On July 21, 2025, the National Archives published the largest disclosure to date from the FBI surveillance file on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., covering airtels, memos, and field-office reports between 1962 and 1968. The release followed Executive Order 14176.

Are the 1977 sealed files released?

Executive Order 14176 directed early disclosure of records that had been sealed by a 1977 federal court order until 2027. The 2025 release represents the first large batch produced under that directive; additional records are expected.

Why were MLK files sealed for so long?

The FBI opened sustained surveillance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1962 under J. Edgar Hoover. Thousands of resulting files were sealed by a 1977 federal court order until January 31, 2027. Executive Order 14176, signed in January 2025, directed the Department of Justice and the National Archives to accelerate public release of those records.