Trump administration has revoked a policy set by his predecessor requiring US intelligence officials to publish the number of civilians killed in drone strikes outside of war zones.
The 2016 executive order was brought in by then-President Barack Obama, who was under pressure to be more transparent.
Since the 9/11 terror attack, drone strikes have been increasingly used against terror and military targets.
The Trump administration said the rule was “superfluous” and distracting.
The order applied to the CIA, which has carried out drone strikes in countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Somalia.
“This action eliminates superfluous reporting requirements, requirements that do not improve government transparency, but rather distract our intelligence professionals from their primary mission,” an official said.