The level of classified information that, if disclosed, could cause damage (not “serious” or “exceptionally grave” damage) to national security is Confidential.

Quick definition

  • Confidential : Unauthorized disclosure could reasonably be expected to cause damage to national security.
  • Secret : Unauthorized disclosure could reasonably be expected to cause serious damage to national security.
  • Top Secret : Unauthorized disclosure could reasonably be expected to cause exceptionally grave damage to national security.

So for the exact phrasing “could cause damage to national security,” the correct classification level is Confidential.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.