The order, coming little more than a week before the 20th anniversary of the attacks, is a significant moment in a year-long tussle between the government and the families over what classified information about the run-up to the attacks could be made public.

That conflict was on display last month when many relatives, survivors, and first responders came out against Biden’s participation in 9/11 memorial events if the documents remained classified.

Biden said on Friday that he was making good on a campaign commitment by ordering the declassification review.

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