Those who "need to know" are decided by laws, laws enacted by the congress of the United States, which is made up of people elected by the citizen's of the United States. The government acts and exists at the discretion of the citizens. Congress could enact laws, signed off by the President, to do away with classifying anything secret. They only have the power to act on the people's behalf. They do NOT have ownership of anything, but only the responsibility to act on the people's behalf. I think you and I have a fundamental disagreement on the function and autonomy of the government under the Constitution of the United States.