During emergency destruction of classified material, what should be destroyed first?

In the context of emergency destruction of classified material, the highest priority is assigned to materials based on their classification level. Top secret special access materials are regarded as the most sensitive and detrimental to national security if disclosed. Therefore, they must be destroyed first to mitigate the risks posed by potential exposure.

Destroying top secret special access material before other classifications ensures that information with the highest potential for harm is eliminated first. This protocol reflects the critical need to secure the most sensitive information, as its exposure could lead to severe consequences, including threats to national security and the safety of personnel.

Materials classified as secret and confidential, while still important, do not carry the same level of urgency in destruction as top secret special access materials. Unclassified documents are not associated with the same national security risks and do not require immediate destruction during an emergency.