You can get quite a bit of material under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) even copies of cafeteria menus and complaints sent in regarding the food.

Although I still have quite a few open FOIA requests regarding this, the below have come in thus far.

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

 CIA Cafeteria Complaints, Calendar Year 2013 [29 Pages, 2.7MB]

Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)

DIA Cafeteria Complaints, Calendar Year 2013 [33 Pages, 11MB]

Department of Agriculture (USDA)

 USDA Cafeteria Complaints, Calendar Years 2014-2015 [4 Pages, 0.6MB] – USDA claims only 1 complain was filed, but was settled, so there was no official report.

Department of Commerce (DOC)

 DOC Cafeteria Complaints, Calendar Years 2014-2015 [4 Pages, 1.7MB] – Pretty long and detailed complaint because he felt he overpaid by… 47 cents! (Wonder how much taxpayers paid to pay this worker, to write this letter?)

Department of Defense (DOD)

 DOD / Pentagon Cafeteria Complaints, Calendar Years 2014-2015 [37 Pages, 1.7MB]

Department of Energy (DOE)

 DOE Cafeteria Complaints, Calendar Years 2014-2015 [149 Pages, 14.1MB]

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

 HHS Cafeteria Complaints, Calendar Years 2014-2015 [11 Pages, 1.6MB]

Department of Transportation (DOT)

 DOT Cafeteria Complaints, Calendar Years 2014-2015 [16 Pages, 2.8MB]

Department of Treasury

Department of Treasury Cafeteria Complaints, Calendar Years 2014-2015 [5 Pages, 1MB]

National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)

 NRO Cafeteria Complaints, Calendar Year 2013 [30 Pages, 0.6MB]

National Security Agency (NSA)

 NSA Cafeteria Complaints, Calendar Year 2013 [18 Pages, 9.3MB]

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

 NRO Cafeteria Complaints, Calendar Years 2014-2015 [8 Pages, 0.6MB]

Veterans Affairs (VA)

 VA Cafeteria Complaints, Calendar Years 2014-2015 [7 Pages, 2.1MB]

The post Agency Cafeterias – Complaints & Menus first appeared on The Black Vault.

The report contains significant revelations about the origins of the virus, widespread policy failures, and the successes that emerged despite numerous challenges. Subcommittee Chairman Brad Wenstrup described the work as “the single most impactful responsibility I have undertaken in 12 years in Congress.”

Lab Leak Theory Gains Credence
One of the most striking findings concerns the origins of SARS-CoV-2. The report lends considerable weight to the hypothesis that the virus emerged from a lab-related incident, specifically at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV). The subcommittee referenced testimony from intelligence officials and scientists that supported the theory over the zoonotic spillover explanation.

Dr. Robert Redfield, former Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, testified: “From the earliest days of the pandemic, my view was that both theories about the origin of COVID-19 needed to be aggressively and thoroughly examined. Based on my initial analysis of the data, I came to believe—and still believe today—that it indicates COVID-19 infections more likely were the result of an accidental lab leak than the result of a natural spillover event.”

The report highlights several factors supporting this conclusion, including a January 2021 State Department fact sheet. It noted, “The U.S. government has reason to believe that several researchers inside the WIV became sick in autumn 2019, before the first identified case of the outbreak, with symptoms consistent with both COVID-19 and common seasonal illness.”

Further bolstering the lab-leak theory, former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe testified: “If our intelligence and evidence supporting a lab leak theory was placed side-by-side with our intelligence and evidence pointing to a natural origins or spillover theory, the lab leak side of the ledger would be long, convincing, even overwhelming, while the spillover side would be nearly empty and tenuous.”

The report also scrutinized gain-of-function research conducted at the WIV, funded in part by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH). The June 2023 Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) assessment revealed that “some of the WIV’s genetic engineering projects on coronaviruses involved techniques that could make it difficult to detect intentional changes.”

Failures in Transparency and Oversight
The subcommittee strongly criticized U.S. agencies for a lack of transparency during the pandemic. It singled out the NIH and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), accusing them of failing to provide adequate oversight of EcoHealth Alliance, a key partner in research conducted at the WIV.

The report alleges that Dr. Anthony Fauci “played semantics with the definition of gain-of-function research,” fostering an environment of evasion when responding to congressional inquiries. It also notes that “senior National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases leadership fostered an environment that promoted evading the Freedom of Information Act.”

The report’s findings suggest that the opacity around the origins of the virus and the public health response eroded trust in government institutions. “Accountability, transparency, honesty, and integrity will regain this trust,” the report states.

Fraud in Relief Programs
The report provides a sobering account of rampant fraud in pandemic relief programs. The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) alone saw at least $64 billion stolen by fraudsters, with similar vulnerabilities in the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. The Small Business Administration’s failure to implement proper oversight controls exacerbated these losses.

“Federal agencies overseeing pandemic relief funds were needlessly ‘siloed off’ from each other, which prevented holistic tracking and disbursing of funds to prevent fraud,” the subcommittee wrote.

Impact of School Closures
Pandemic-era school closures also faced heavy scrutiny. The report describes these closures as a significant policy failure with long-term consequences for children. It claims that the closures were not grounded in robust scientific evidence and disproportionately harmed vulnerable populations.

“Pandemic-era school closures will have enduring impacts on generations of America’s children,” the report states, highlighting increases in mental health issues, behavioral problems, and academic setbacks. The subcommittee cited testimony describing the closures as a decision influenced more by political pressure than by sound science.

Public Health Successes and Lessons Learned
Despite its criticisms, the report praises some aspects of the pandemic response, particularly Operation Warp Speed, which accelerated vaccine development. The program “undoubtedly saved millions of lives by diminishing the likelihood of severe disease and death,” the report acknowledges.

However, the report calls for a reassessment of vaccine mandates and pandemic-era restrictions. “The Constitution cannot be suspended in times of crisis, and restrictions on freedoms sow distrust in public health,” the subcommittee wrote. It further criticized vaccine mandates, asserting they were not fully supported by science and had unintended consequences, including harm to military readiness.

A Call for Action
Chairman Wenstrup emphasized that the report should serve as a roadmap for preventing and managing future pandemics. “This work will help the United States, and the world, predict the next pandemic, prepare for the next pandemic, protect ourselves from the next pandemic, and hopefully prevent the next pandemic,” he said.

The report calls for continued congressional investigation into unresolved issues, including the origins of the virus and the performance of federal agencies during the pandemic. It concludes, “We can always do better, and for the sake of future generations of Americans, we must. It can be done.”

With these findings, the report aims to foster accountability and restore public trust in government and public health institutions ahead of potential future crises.

Document Archive

Congressional Report Details COVID-19 Origins, Response, and Lessons Learned [502 Pages, 46MB]

The post Congressional Report Details COVID-19 Origins, Response, and Lessons Learned first appeared on The Black Vault.

One of the central features of Obamacare is the individual mandate, which requires most Americans to have health insurance or face a penalty. This mandate was designed to expand the pool of insured individuals, thereby spreading the risk and enabling insurers to lower costs for everyone. The ACA also expanded Medicaid eligibility and created health insurance exchanges where individuals and families could purchase insurance plans, often with the help of government subsidies based on income levels. Additionally, the ACA implemented consumer protections, such as prohibiting insurance companies from denying coverage due to pre-existing conditions, charging more based on health status or gender, and setting annual or lifetime coverage limits.

Despite its intentions and achievements, Obamacare has been the subject of significant political controversy and legal challenges. Critics argue that it has led to increased health insurance premiums for some individuals, excessive regulatory burdens on businesses, and undue government intervention in the healthcare market. Supporters contend that the ACA has significantly reduced the number of uninsured Americans, provided essential health benefits, and curbed healthcare spending growth. Legal challenges have reached the Supreme Court, which has upheld most of the law’s provisions, including the individual mandate (later effectively nullified by Congress in 2017 by reducing the penalty to zero). The ongoing debate reflects broader disagreements over the role of government in healthcare and the best ways to achieve universal coverage and cost control in the healthcare system.

The following documents is publicly available legislation and records released through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Document Archive

Office of Management and Budget Records

Emails from/to Sylvia Mathews Burwell, Director of the EOP/OMB, containing the keywords “Obamacare” [829 Pages, 50MB] – This request took almost a decade to process and complete.

Full Text of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, March 23, 2010 [906 Pages, 2.41MB] – Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act as passed by Congress

 Compilation of Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, As Amended Through May 1, 2010 [974 Pages, 2.57MB] – PATIENT PROTECTION AND AFFORDABLE CARE ACT HEALTH-RELATED PORTIONS OF THE HEALTH CARE AND EDUCATION RECONCILIATION ACT OF 2010.

What exactly is this version? Tom Giffey, of the Leader-Telegram, explains it best: “As you may recall, the Democrats’ loss of a supermajority in the Senate in early 2010 led to parliamentary gymnastics to pass an amended version of the bill in a way that avoided a Republican filibuster; this was done through the so-called “reconciliation” process, which limits debate on spending bills. As far as I can tell, including this reconciliation act makes the document a bit longer.”  (Source)

HHS Enrollment Reports

 HEALTH INSURANCE MARKETPLACE: NOVEMBER ENROLLMENT REPORT, November 13, 2013 [28 Pages, 0.7MB] – This issue brief highlights national and state-level enrollment-related information for the first month of the Health Insurance Marketplace (Marketplace hereafter) initial open enrollment period that began October 1, 2013 for coverage beginning January 1, 2014 (see Appendix A for state-level data). It also provides an overview of the methodology that was used in compiling these data (see Appendix B), and includes information about strategies to reach consumers.

Other Related Documents

 The 2012 Long-Term Budget Outlook [110 Pages, 1.38MB] – Report by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), June 2012.  Multiple references to the Affordable Care Act and its influence on the debt.

 DOD Health Care: Cost Impact of Health Care Reform and the Extension of Dependent Coverage, 26 September 2011 [16 Pages, 0.4MB] – The Department of Defense (DOD) offers health care to eligible beneficiaries through TRICARE, its health care program.1 Recently enacted health care reform legislation the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (HCERA)2 has implications for much of the nation s health care system, including TRICARE.3 One particular health reform provision directed certain health insurance plans to extend coverage to dependents up to age 26.4 Though this provision does not apply to TRICARE because it is not considered a health insurance plan,5 the subsequent Ike Skelton National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 (NDAA 2011) included a similar provision that extends TRICARE coverage to certain dependent children of TRICARE beneficiaries.6 In response, in May 2011, DOD began implementing TRICARE Young Adult (TYA), a premium-based health care plan7 that extends TRICARE coverage to dependents of TRICARE beneficiaries up to age 26 who do not have access to employer-sponsored health care coverage and are unmarried.8 The NDAA 2011 directed us to assess the cost to DOD of complying with PPACA and HCERA. You also asked us to examine DOD s costs of implementing, administering, and providing benefits under TYA. In this report, we assess DOD s costs of (1) complying with PPACA and HCERA and (2) implementing and providing benefits under TYA.

 National Healthcare Reform: Implications for the Military Healthcare System [36 Pages, 0.7MB] – For decades, economists, forward thinking lawmakers and academicians have issued warnings that continued escalating healthcare costs and an aging population would lead to a day of fiscal reckoning. Today, healthcare spending exceeds $2.1 trillion annually hitting twice that spent on food. Liberal benefits entailing little out of pocket expenses from the consumer lead the list of causes. Hospital and physician expenses experiencing little price discipline are at the heart of an emerging crisis in the American healthcare industry. Paralleling the civilian sector, department of defense medical costs have escalated, now threatening to exceed of the defense budget. Military leaders recognizing the link between open ended access to healthcare and excessive utilization, despite their warnings have met with stiff resistance from a broad coalition of lobbyists and elected representatives to implement reforms. The recent passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), injects an impetus toward change, however unless addressed comprehensively, the cost of healthcare will continue to rise independently from the stated goals of quality, equity, affordability. Regardless of its previous shortcomings, the Military Healthcare System (MHS) is unique as a large government run healthcare organization which could positively impact national healthcare reform.

 TRICARE and VA Health Care: Impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, 22 April 2010 [16 Pages, 0.4MB] – The 111th Congress recently passed, and the President signed into law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148; PPACA), as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-152; HCERA). In general, PPACA did not make any significant changes to the Department of Defense (DOD) TRICARE program or to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system. However, many have sought clarification as to whether certain provisions in PPACA, such as a mandate for most individuals to have health insurance, or extending dependant coverage up to age 26, would apply to TRICARE and VA health care beneficiaries. To address some of these concerns, Congress has introduced and/or enacted legislation. The TRICARE Affirmation Act (H.R. 4887), passed by both the House and the Senate and received by the President, would affirm that TRICARE satisfies the minimum acceptable coverage requirement in PPACA. Similarly S. 3162 (passed by the Senate on March 26, 2010) and H.R. 5014 (introduced in the House on April 14, 2010) would, if enacted, clarify that the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA), Spina Bifida Health Care Program, and the Children of Women Vietnam Veterans Health Care Program meet the “minimum essential coverage” requirement under PPACA. In addition, the TRICARE Dependent Coverage Extension Act (H.R. 4923; S. 3201), if enacted, would extend certain PPACA provisions to TRICARE beneficiaries. This report addresses key questions concerning how PPACA will likely affect TRICARE and VA health care. This report will be updated if events warrant.

The post Obamacare / Affordable Care Act first appeared on The Black Vault.

The original FOIA request specifically sought “all reports, papers, memos, etc. from the Armed Forces Medical Intelligence Center during 2019, 2020 or 2021 evaluating the origin of the Covid-19 novel SARS-2 Coronavirus and/or whether the Covid-19 novel SARS-2 Coronavirus was created in a laboratory.” The DIA’s response: “A search of DIA’s systems of records located one document (32 pages) responsive to your request.”

But the catch? Hefty redactions. Out of the 32 pages found responsive, 18 pages were “withheld in part” while a staggering 14 pages were “withheld in full.” The few visible headers include hints at what was being withheld like “China: Emergence of a Novel Coronavirus in Wuhan” and “Analysis of Alternatives: 2019-nCoV Outbreak Caused by Leak at WIV.” Yet, substantial portions of content, entire paragraphs, and even entire pages remain obscured from view.

In the DIA’s defense, they cite a litany of FOIA exemptions. Exemption 1, aligned with the criteria of Executive Order 13526, pertains to “information properly classified,” while Exemption 3 encompasses information “specifically exempted by a statute establishing particular criteria for withholding.” The statutes invoked, 10 U.S.C. § 424 and 50 U.S.C. § 3024(i), serve to protect the identity of DIA employees, the agency’s organizational structure, its functions, and “intelligence sources and methods.”

The looming question, then, is why? Why the necessity to shroud in secrecy information about a global pandemic’s origin – a matter of public health, concern, and knowledge?

While the DIA’s justifications, rooted in the protection of intelligence practices and personnel, are notable, the broader implications are evident. With global conversations on transparency, the nexus of defense intelligence and pandemic research remains as clouded as ever.

###

Document Archive

DIA Releases Heavily Redacted Documents on COVID-19 Origin: Raises More Questions than Answers [20 Pages, 1.5MB]

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The post DIA Releases Heavily Redacted Documents on COVID-19 Origin: Raises More Questions than Answers first appeared on The Black Vault.

This report was drafted by the National Intelligence Officer for Weapons of Mass
Destruction and Proliferation and coordinated with the IC.

Document Archive

Potential Links Between the Wuhan Institute of Virology and the Origin of the COVID-19 Pandemic, June 2023 [10 Pages, 1MB]

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The post Potential Links Between the Wuhan Institute of Virology and the Origin of the COVID-19 Pandemic, June 2023 first appeared on The Black Vault.

The CIA’s final response after more than a year and a half is what is known as a “GLOMAR response.” This is when an agency “can neither confirm nor deny the existence or nonexistence of such records responsive” to any particular request.

The question does arise if the CIA will blanket deny 100% of requests that come in on their director’s e-mail box, and this is just standard practice. In another case from 2019 (FOIA Case F-2020-00333), The Black Vault filed for a search of Haspel’s emails for the keyword, “Ciaramella,” which tied in to the alleged CIA whistleblower who exposed President Donald Trump’s phone call with the president of Ukraine which led to Trump’s impeachment trial. This case also yielded a “GLOMAR response,” but in that case, that outcome is somewhat expected, given his identity was not confirmed at the time of filing.

If it were standard practice, it does not seem reasonable that it would take more than a year and a half to offer a GLOMAR response. It would be expected that upon filing, for any keyword search on a CIA director’s e-mail box; it would just be immediately denied.

The Black Vault has numerous other cases currently still open for e-mails sent to or from Haspel and those cases will be posted upon completion.

The final response letter is below:

The post CIA Will Not Confirm or Deny If E-Mails on COVID or the Pandemic Exist Within Trump’s CIA Director’s E-mail Box first appeared on The Black Vault.

This caused controversy, because the CDC upon changing the guidance, did not publish the data supporting it.

On July 30, 2021, they did. The below is the report which is, according to the CDC, what played a role in their viewpoint change.

According to the report:

In July 2021, following multiple large public events in a Barnstable County, Massachusetts, town, 469 COVID-19 cases were identified among Massachusetts residents who had traveled to the town during July 3–17; 346 (74%) occurred in fully vaccinated persons. Testing identified the Delta variant in 90% of specimens from 133 patients. Cycle threshold values were similar among specimens from patients who were fully vaccinated and those who were not.

Jurisdictions might consider expanded prevention strategies, including universal masking in indoor public settings, particularly for large public gatherings that include travelers from many areas with differing levels of SARS-CoV-2 transmission.

The Report

Outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 Infections, Including COVID-19 Vaccine Breakthrough Infections, Associated with Large Public Gatherings — Barnstable County, Massachusetts, July 2021 [5 Pages, 0.6MB]

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The post Outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 Infections, Including COVID-19 Vaccine Breakthrough Infections, Associated with Large Public Gatherings — Barnstable County, Massachusetts, July 2021 first appeared on The Black Vault.

The Guatemala syphilis experiments were United States-led human experiments conducted in Guatemala from 1946 to 1948. The experiments were led by physician John Charles Cutler who also participated in the late stages of the Tuskegee syphilis experiment. Doctors infected soldiers, prostitutes, prisoners and mental patients with syphilis and other sexually transmitted diseases, without the informed consent of the subjects. The experiment resulted in at least 83 deaths. Serology studies continued through 1953 involving the same vulnerable populations in addition to children from state-run schools, an orphanage, and rural towns, though the intentional infection of patients ended with the original study. On October 1, 2010, the U.S. President, Secretary of State and Secretary of Health and Human Services formally apologized to Guatemala for the ethical violations that took place. Guatemala condemned the experiment as a crime against humanity, and a lawsuit has since been filed.

Document Archive

CDC Report on Findings from the U.S. Public Health Service Sexually Transmitted Disease Inoculation Study of 1946-1948, Based on Review of Archived Papers of John Cutler, MD, at the University of Pittsburgh, 29 September 2010 [27 Pages, 0.8MB]

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The post CDC Report on Findings from the U.S. Public Health Service Sexually Transmitted Disease Inoculation Study of 1946-1948, Based on Review of Archived Papers of John Cutler, MD, at the University of Pittsburgh, 29 September 2010 first appeared on The Black Vault.

Objective

The objective of this evaluation was to determine the extent to which DoD Components provided access to DoD information technology and communications during the coronavirus disease–2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Background

In May 2006, the President issued the National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza Implementation Plan that requires Federal agencies to develop plans to maintain information technology and communications systems to continue operations during a pandemic. In response, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Global Security (ASD[HD&GS]) issued the DoD Implementation Plan for Pandemic Influenza (DoD Implementation Plan) in August 2006 to ensure the continuity of essential functions in the event of a pandemic. The DoD Implementation Plan states that during a pandemic, special consideration must be given to social distancing in the workplace through teleworking. DoD Components’ pandemic plans should include the use of laptops, high-speed telecommunications links, and other systems that enable personnel to perform essential functions while teleworking. The plans should also include the requirement to test telework procedures, the impact of Government-wide mandated telework on internal networks, and backup plans for communications infrastructure.

Apart from DoD pandemic planning, the DoD Telework Policy states that telework will be actively promoted and implemented throughout the DoD in support of emergency preparedness. The policy recognizes that during a pandemic, essential and non-essential personnel and Service members may be asked to telework; therefore, periodic telework exercises are required to ensure its effectiveness in continuing operations and an efficient transition to telework in the event of a pandemic.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, DoD Components began transitioning to maximum telework in mid-March 2020. On March 18, 2020, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense issued a memorandum stating that DoD Components could execute their pandemic plans, or portions of their plans, at any time to ensure the ability to perform their essential functions.

To determine the extent to which DoD Components provided access to DoD information technology and communications during maximum telework in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we administered a 43-question survey to a sample of DoD military and civilian personnel. In August 2020, we invited 269,282 DoD military and civilian personnel to respond to our survey to share their teleworking experiences from March 15 through August 26, 2020. We received a total of 56,057 responses, comprising 7,323 military and 48,734 civilian personnel, for a 20.8 percent overall response rate. We also conducted interviews with officials from the DoD Office of the Chief Information Officer, the DoD COVID-19 Telework Readiness Task Force, and the Offices of the Chief Information Officer for 10 DoD Components to obtain their perspectives on the infrastructure established to support the increased number of teleworking personnel.

Finding

According to the 54,665 respondents who reported their telework status, the DoD transitioned 88.2 percent of respondents to full- or part-time telework from March 15, 2020 through August 26, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the 11.8 percent of respondents who continued to work on site, the most common reasons provided by survey respondents for not teleworking were that their work could not be performed while teleworking, or they were not eligible to telework. Of those who teleworked, survey respondents reported problems accessing DoD Component networks, voice and video teleconference applications, and identified shortfalls in Government-furnished equipment available to DoD personnel when their Components first transitioned to maximum telework in mid-March 2020. However, the problems cited in survey responses lessened over time as the DoD increased its network availability and capacity, added voice and video conferencing applications, and purchased and distributed computer and communications equipment.

Based on the results of the survey and interviews with DoD officials, the DoD’s initial challenges occurred because some DoD Components had not fully tested whether their information systems could support Government-wide mandated telework and had not conducted telework exercises with their personnel before March 2020 as required by the DoD Implementation Plan and the DoD Telework Policy. Therefore, some DoD Components were unprepared for the network and communications limitations, as well as equipment and application shortfalls, uncovered by the transition to maximum telework. While the Marine Corps, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), and the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) were able to immediately transition to maximum telework, the Army, Navy, Air Force, Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA), Defense Finance Accounting Service (DFAS), and Defense Health Agency (DHA) faced challenges during the transition.

The ability of DoD personnel to perform essential and non-essential tasks while on maximum telework depends on DoD Components’ ability to provide enough network capacity, communication tools, and equipment to enable the DoD’s essential and non-essential personnel to stay mission-ready and productive while in a telework status. Some teleworking personnel reported that they found their own alternative solutions including the use of unauthorized video conferencing applications and personal laptops, printers, and cell phones to complete their work because some DoD Components were unprepared for maximum telework. However, using unauthorized applications or sharing DoD information over improperly secured devices, even temporarily, increases the risk of exposing sensitive departmental information that could impact national security and DoD missions.

Overall, DoD Components and the majority of survey respondents expressed positive maximum telework experiences. Specifically, 88.1 percent of survey respondents stated that their productivity level remained the same or increased during maximum telework, regardless of their Component’s initial telework challenges. Many survey respondents reported a desire to telework regularly in the future (37,146 responses) and expressed appreciation for commuting less often (27,711 responses), better work‑life balance (25,508 responses), and more flexible work hours (22,461 responses).

Recommendations

We recommend that the ASD(HD&GS) revise the DoD Implementation Plan for Pandemic Influenza to update planning assumptions with the use of telework for essential and non-essential personnel, align the DoD Implementation Plan with the DoD Telework Policy, and require DoD Components to update their plans to include revised assumptions regarding telework for personnel and the resources required to support the teleworking workforce.

We recommend that the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy (USD[P]), in coordination with the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, establish management oversight procedures to verify that DoD Components have performed the testing, training, and exercise requirements of the DoD Implementation Plan and the DoD Telework Policy. The oversight procedures should assess the ability of DoD Components to support Government-wide mandated telework, including the results of tests of network and communications systems and telework exercises with personnel.

Management Comments and Our Response

The Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy (DUSD[P]), responding for the USD(P) and the ASD(HD&GS) did not respond to the recommendation to require DoD Components to update their Pandemic Plans to include revised assumptions regarding telework for personnel and the resources required to support the teleworking workforce. Therefore, the recommendation is unresolved. We request that the ASD(HD&GS) provide comments on the final report.

The DUSD(P) did not agree or disagree with the other two recommendations in the report. However, the DUSD(P) stated that the ASD(HD&GS) would work with the Joint Staff and the U.S. Northern Command to include the use of telework for essential and non‑essential personnel in the Functional Campaign Plan–Pandemics and Infectious Diseases, which will replace the DoD Implementation Plan for Pandemic Influenza, and align the plan with the DoD Telework Policy. In addition, the DUSD(P) stated that the ASD(HD&GS) would also work with the Joint Staff to include the use of telework for essential and non-essential personnel in the Global Integration Framework-Pandemics and Infectious Diseases.

Furthermore, the DUSD(P) stated that her office would support and advocate for oversight procedures to verify that DoD Components performed the testing, training, and exercise requirements of the Global Integration Framework–Pandemics and Infectious Diseases, the Functional Campaign Plan–Pandemics and Infectious Diseases, the DoD Telework Policy, and the Pandemic Plans. Therefore, the recommendations are resolved, but will remain open until the ASD(HD&GS) updates the Functional Campaign Plan–Pandemics and Infectious Diseases and the Global Integration Framework-Pandemics and Infectious Diseases to include the use of telework for essential and non-essential personnel and USD(P) provides oversight procedures for verifying that DoD Components performed the required testing, training, and exercises.

This report is the product of Proj. No. D2020-D000CU-0125.000.

Document Archive

Evaluation of Access to Department of Defense Information Technology and Communications During the Coronavirus Disease-2019 Pandemic (DODIG-2021-065) [100 Pages, 6MB]

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The post Evaluation of Access to Department of Defense Information Technology and Communications During the Coronavirus Disease-2019 Pandemic (DODIG-2021-065) first appeared on The Black Vault.

USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) Sailors demonstrate helpful ways to fight the spread of COVID-19.

This video was created and published in May of 2020 in order to help provide better understanding of fighting the spread of COVID-19.

Video Archive

The post Fight the Spread of COVID-19 with Sailors from the USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) first appeared on The Black Vault.

Document Archive

GAO Report: COVID-19 — Federal Efforts Could Be Strengthened by Timely and Concerted Actions, September 2020 [371 Pages, 11MB]

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The post GAO Report: COVID-19 — Federal Efforts Could Be Strengthened by Timely and Concerted Actions, September 2020 first appeared on The Black Vault.

The following document was sent internally at the FBI on February 24, 2020. It was a “Situational Awareness” record that was an update on the Coronavirus situation.

The record stated, when written, “Center for Disease Control (CDC) assesses the current risk to the American public as low, but is taking proactive preparedness precautions.”

Document Archive

FBI Coronavirus Situational Awareness E-Mail, February 24, 2020 [7 Pages, 0.5MB]

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The post FBI Coronavirus Situational Awareness E-Mail, February 24, 2020 first appeared on The Black Vault.

President Donald Trump sent the following letter to the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) on May 18, 2020. The entire letter is below, without editorial.

Document Archive

The post President Donald Trump Letter to World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus first appeared on The Black Vault.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Office of the Director of National Intelligence today issued the following Intelligence Community (IC) statement:

“The entire Intelligence Community has been consistently providing critical support to U.S. policymakers and those responding to the COVID-19 virus, which originated in China. The Intelligence Community also concurs with the wide scientific consensus that the COVID-19 virus was not manmade or genetically modified.

“As we do in all crises, the Community’s experts respond by surging resources and producing critical intelligence on issues vital to U.S. national security. The IC will continue to rigorously examine emerging information and intelligence to determine whether the outbreak began through contact with infected animals or if it was the result of an accident at a laboratory in Wuhan.”

The post Intelligence Community Statement on Origins of COVID-19, April 30, 2020 first appeared on The Black Vault.

Pandemic influenza has had an impact on militaries and societies in the past, and will again, because the virus remains endemic worldwide and mutates rapidly, negating human immunity. Based on the lessons from the 1918 pandemic and the US National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza, the Department of Defense (DOD) should expand its implementation plan in order to enforce containment of a future pandemic and respond to humanitarian assistance needs of partner nations.

Document Archive

Lessons from the 1918 Influenza Pandemic: Using Historical Examples to Inform the Department of Defense’s Response to the Next Pandemic, 2013 [43 Pages, 1MB]

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The post Lessons from the 1918 Influenza Pandemic: Using Historical Examples to Inform the Department of Defense’s Response to the Next Pandemic, 2013 first appeared on The Black Vault.

Background

Nearly 75 percent of all new, emerging, or re-emerging diseases affecting humans at the beginning of the 21st century are zoonotic (i.e. originated in animals). Notable reminders of how vulnerable the increasingly interconnected world is to the global impact of new emergent diseases include HIV/AIDS, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), the H5N1 strain of avian influenza, and the 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus. The speed with which these diseases can emerge and spread presents serious public health, economic, and development concerns. It also underscores the need for the development of comprehensive disease detection and response capacities, particularly in “hot spot” areas such as central Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and Latin America where a confluence of risk factors may contribute to disease emergence.

The Pandemic Influenza and Other Emerging Threats (PIOET) Unit supports two major lines of work: H5N1 Avian Influenza, and Emerging Pandemic Threats. H5N1 Avian Influenza: Since 2005, USAID has strengthened the capacities of more than 50 countries for monitoring the spread of H5N1 avian influenza among wild bird populations, domestic poultry, and humans, to mount a rapid and effective containment of the virus when it is found, and to help countries prepare operational capacities in the event a pandemic capable virus emerges.

USAID’s efforts have contributed to dramatic downturns in poultry outbreaks and human infections, and a dramatic reduction in the number of countries affected; with five of these countries (Indonesia, Vietnam, China, Bangladesh and Egypt) as the primary reservoir of the virus. Although these successes are significant, the H5N1 virus remains a serious threat and sustained vigilance is required. Mindful of the need for vigilance USAID continues its efforts to build on its successes and further consolidate its programs in the highest risk countries. Emerging Pandemic Threats: As a complement to USAID’s work in H5N1, the PIOET Unit launched the Emerging Pandemic Threats program in 2009 to aggressively preempt or combat other diseases that could spark future pandemics.

This second line of work is composed of four complementary projects operating in 20 countries — PREDICT, PREVENT, IDENTIFY, and RESPOND—with technical assistance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The EPT global program draws on expertise from across the animal and human health sectors to build regional, national, and local “One Health” capacities for early disease detection, laboratory-based disease diagnosis, rapid response and containment, and risk reduction. At the country level, the EPT partners are working with governments and other key incountry and regional partners to enhance the understanding of viral distribution and key drivers of disease emergence—from deforestation and land use change to wildlife trade and livestock product demands.

This information, along with other EPT investments to strengthen country-level capacities for routine infectious disease detection and outbreak response, will be used to improve surveillance and response as well as risk-mitigation strategies.

These efforts will safeguard human and animal health and livelihoods in locations in Africa, Asia, and Latin America where new pandemic threats are likely to emerge. (Source: PIOET Fact Sheet / USAID)

Document Archive

In March of 2016, I filed a FOIA to USAID for all documents pertaining to the accomplishments of this program. The FOIA request resulted in multiple responses and document releases. They are all below.

 First Interim Release, June 9, 2016 [2,200 Pages, 69MB]

 Second Final Release, Part 1, April 19, 2019 [2,122 Pages, 395MB]
 Second Final Release, Part 2, April 19, 2019 [2,119 Pages, 442MB]

About USAID

U.S. foreign assistance has always had the twofold purpose of furthering America’s interests while improving lives in the developing world. USAID carries out U.S. foreign policy by promoting broad-scale human progress at the same time it expands stable, free societies, creates markets and trade partners for the United States, and fosters good will abroad.

Spending less than 1 percent of the total federal budget, USAID works in over 100 countries to:

• Promote broadly shared economic prosperity;
• Strengthen democracy and good governance;
• Protect human rights;
• Improve global health,
• Advance food security and agriculture;
• Improve environmental sustainability;
• Further education;
• Help societies prevent and recover from conflicts; and
• Provide humanitarian assistance in the wake of natural and man-made disasters.

(Source: USAID Fact Sheet)

The post USAID’s Pandemic Influenza and Other Emerging Threats (PIOET) Program first appeared on The Black Vault.

A major concern among healthcare experts is a projected shortage of N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) during an influenza pandemic. One option for mitigating an FFR shortage is to decontaminate and reuse the devices. Many parameters must be evaluated to verify the effectiveness of this strategy: biocidal efficacy, filtration performance, pressure drop, fit, and residual toxicity. The focus of this research effort was to evaluate the ability of microwave/steam energy, low-temperature moist heat, and ultraviolet germicidal irradiation at 254 nm to decontaminate H1N1 influenza virus loaded onto FFRs as either aerosols or droplets. Our data indicate that all three decontamination technologies provide > 4-log reduction of viable H1N1 virus –in 93% of our experiments, the virus was removed to levels below the method detection limit. These data are encouraging and may contribute to the evolution of effective strategies for decontamination and reuse of FFRs.

Document Archive

A Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Study: Use of Energetic Methods to Decontaminate Filtering Facepiece Respirators Contaminated with H1N1 Aerosols and Droplets, June 2012 [11 Pages, 1MB]

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The post A Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Study, June 2012 first appeared on The Black Vault.

On March 16, 2020, President Trump and the White House Coronavirus Task Force issued new guidelines to help protect Americans during the global Coronavirus outbreak.

Even if you are young and otherwise healthy, you are at risk—and your activities can increase the risk of contracting the Coronavirus for others. Everyone can do their part. The new recommendations are simple to follow but will have a resounding impact on public health.

Document Archive

The post Coronavirus Guidelines for America, Issued on: March 16, 2020 first appeared on The Black Vault.

Each month, the USDA publishes the MyUSDA newsletter. Although many have been published online, it appears the USDA stopped in March of 2017 from posting them publicly. Below, you will find the newsletters never posted by the USDA.

Document Archive

 MyUSDA Newsletters – United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) May 2017 – October 2017 [43 Pages, 9.5MB]

https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/usda/2018-DA-04414-F.pdf

The post MyUSDA Newsletters – United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) first appeared on The Black Vault.

Since the viruses was first discovered, HIV and AIDS have long been rumored to have been a biproduct of American experimentation.  Varying conspiracy theories and groups alleged that HIV/AIDS was created in a laboratory, and grew beyond anyone’s control.

One write-up by Wikipedia explains a few of the theories:

• Jakob Segal (1911–1995), a professor at Humboldt University in then-East Germany, proposed that HIV was engineered at a U.S. military laboratory at Fort Detrick, by splicing together two other viruses, Visna and HTLV-1. According to his theory, the new virus, created between 1977 and 1978, was tested on prison inmates who had volunteered for the experiment in exchange for early release. He further suggested that it was through these prisoners that the virus was spread to the population at large. At the end of the Cold War, former KGB agents Vasili Mitrokhin and Oleg Gordievsky independently revealed that the Fort Detrick hypothesis was a propaganda operation devised by the KGB’s First Chief Directorate codenamed “Operation INFEKTION”. This revelation was later supported by officer Günther Bohnensack of section X of East Germany’s Hauptverwaltung Aufklärung. It is known that Segal was in close contact with Russian KGB officers and Mitrokhin mentioned him as a central asset of the operation. It is not entirely clear whether Segal pursued the hypothesis independently on his own accord or whether he was simply following orders. Segal himself always denied the latter and kept pursuing the hypothesis even after the operation had been canceled and the Cold War had ended.
• In Behold a Pale Horse (1991), radio broadcaster and author Milton William Cooper (1943–2001) proposed that AIDS was the result of a conspiracy to decrease the populations of blacks, Hispanics, and homosexuals.
• The dentist and entrepreneur Leonard G. Horowitz, author of the self-published works Emerging Viruses: AIDS & Ebola. Nature, Accident or Intentional? (1996) and Death in the Air: Globalism, Terrorism and Toxic Warfare (2001), advanced the theory that the AIDS virus was engineered by such U.S. Government defense contractors as Litton Bionetics for the purposes of bio-warfare and “population control”. He believes that HIV was deliberately designed in a US military lab in the 1970s for use as a genocidal weapon.

I have filed various FOIA requests regarding the topic, and below you will see some of the results. As of the writing of this page, April of 2018, there are more FOIA requests still open. Once they are processed and receive a final response, I will add them to the archive here.

Document Archive

Department of State

 Department of State Files about the United States Creating AIDS [12 Pages, 1.8MB]

https://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/state/statedept-aids1.pdf

The post The Allegation the United States Created the HIV/AIDS Virus first appeared on The Black Vault.

According to the “Schedule” portion of the contract/agreement:

There are currently no medical countermeasures available for the prophylaxis or treatment of infection with Ebola virus, a high priority agent for the Public Health Emergency medical Countermeasures Enterprise (PHEMCE) Implementation Plan.

An effective prophylactic vaccine would find application with medical personnel and close contacts during outbreaks in endemic areas of sub-Saharan Africa, with laboratory workers engaged in filovirus research, and with military and civilian personnel threatened by weaponized filoviruses. The ideal vaccine to meet both the outbreak and bio-weapon scenarios would rapidly confer protection with a single administration.

Pre-clinical studies conducted by Profectus in collaboration with other laboratories have investigated an rVSVN4CT1 vectored vaccine encoding the surface glycoprotein (GP) of Zaire-EboV (rVSVN4CT1-Z- EbovGP). This rVSV vaccine is based on the bullet shaped Rhadovirus, vesicular stomatitis virus. The virus is a negative-strand, non-segmented RNA virus that has been modified to enable the delivery of immunogens. There is little pre-existing immunity in humans and the vectors can be engineered to express the surface glycoproteins of targeted viruses into the envelope of the VSV. The Profectus rVSV vaccine has demonstrated single dose protection in Guinea Pigs and NHPs against lethal challenge with Ebola and Marburg viruses. Profectus has shown safety of its rVSV platform in human studies of its rVSV-vectored HIV vaccine, which has completed 2 clinical trials in which safety, vaccine take, and immunogenicity across a range of doses was demonstrated.

This contract will support the advancement of the monovalent rVSVN4CT1 Ebola Zaire vaccine through preparation of an IND application for a Phase I clinical trial. These IND enabling activities include re-derivation of the recombinant vaccine under compliant conditions; a pre-IND meeting with the FDA to obtain feedback on the proposed path forward (specifically toxicology requirements); generation of immune serum from rabbits to neutralize vaccine during testing for adventitious agents; manufacture the monovalent vaccine under GMP conditions; toxicology testing and assays to support clinical evaluation.

The Advanced Research and Development effort will progress in specific stages that cover the base work segment and six (6) option work segments, as specified in this contract. The estimated period of performance for the base period is twelve (12) months. The work to be performed during the base segment represents a non-severable discrete work segment. Each of the option work segment represents further represents a non-severable discrete work segment. The work in the base segment and each option segment will be fully funded from funds that are available for obligation at the time of the initial award (Base segment) and at the time of the award of each option segment.

Document Archive

 Profectus BioSciences Inc. Ebola Vaccine Contract with Department of Health & Human Services [70 Pages, 2.5MB]

https://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/dhhs/2015-0077.pdf

The post Profectus BioSciences Inc. Ebola Vaccine Contract with Department of Health & Human Services first appeared on The Black Vault.

The Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act (P.L. 107-188) requires the Secretaries of Health and Human Services and Agriculture to report to the Congress annually on the number and nature of notifications received concerning the theft, loss, or release of biological agents or toxins (select agents) regulated pursuant to that Act.

Document Archive

The Department of Agriculture and The Department of Health and Human Services Report to Congress on Thefts, Losses, or Releases of Select Agents or Toxins – 2002 – 2015 [39 Pages, 6.4MB]

https://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/CDC/17-00418CDC.pdf

The post The Department of Agriculture and The Department of Health and Human Services Report to Congress on Thefts, Losses, or Releases of Select Agents or Toxins first appeared on The Black Vault.

Drug traffickers and out-of-state opportunists are exploiting Colorado’s medical marijuana laws. Recent revisions to state law have done little to prevent the
involvement of criminals and individuals who use the law for financial gain.

Currently, convicted criminals and known drug traffickers participate in Colorado’s medical marijuana industry. Moreover, an influx of traffickers and entrepreneurs from other states is seeking to cash in on Colorado’s medical marijuana industry. Investigative and intelligence information reveal a significant volume of Colorado-produced marijuana being diverted to out-of-state marijuana markets where it commands a higher price. This activity is facilitated both by  those directly involved in medical marijuana businesses, as well as illicit brokers who seek “excess” or diverted marijuana to sell to marijuana traffickers.

Background

When Amendment 20, which established the state constitutional right for medicinal marijuana in Colorado, was passed by citizen petition in November 2000, the law dealt with the use and distribution of medical marijuana in a very general fashion. By 2010, Coloradans had witnessed a proliferation in the number of medical marijuana patients, caregivers, commercial dispensaries, sophisticated grow operations, and various associated business ventures such as marijuana brokers and consultants. Vague legislation and loose enforcement combined with an aggressive, profitable industry presents ample opportunity for diversion and exploitation. Colorado’s legislative attempts to address the evolving industry are described in DEA-DEN-DIB-012-12. This document identifies avenues being used by drug traffickers and “ganjapreneurs” exploiting the permissive medical marijuana industry for profit.

Download the Document

 DEA Intelligence Brief: Green Acres is the Place to Be – Drug Traffickers and “Ganjapreneurs” Are Exploiting Colorado’s Medical Marijuana Industry, April 24, 2012 [11 Pages, 2.5MB]

https://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/dea/16-00673-F.pdf

The post DEA Intelligence Brief: Green Acres is the Place to Be – Drug Traffickers and “Ganjapreneurs” Are Exploiting Colorado’s Medical Marijuana Industry, April 24, 2012 first appeared on The Black Vault.

In late October 2013, a 31-year-old British national woman reportedly died as a result of cannabis toxicity.

Although a recent review confirmed the coroner’s findings. the exact cause of death remains unclear and several outside organizations dispute claims that the woman’s death was caused by cannabis toxicity.

Significance

Death from cannabis toxicity is highly unusual and this is only the second documented case of this kind to occur in the United Kingdom (UK). In 2004, a 36-year-old man from Wales also is believed to have died as a result of cannabis toxicity. While the woman’s official cause of death is disputed by several marijuana advocacy groups and other medical experts, the coroner found no evidence of any serious medical condition or natural cause of death and, therefore, concluded that cannabis toxicity was the most likely cause.

Although very few deaths have been attributed to cannabis toxicity, marijuana has a wide range of toxic health effects and is potentially fatal, even when
used in small doses.

For example, studies have shown that marijuana increases the heart rate and blood pressure shortly after use, which can result in cardiac arrest, stroke, and other acute pulmonary or cardiovascular reactions, especially in individuals with pre-existing conditions.

Although increasing cannabis consumption and the introduction of more potent varieties of the drug could result in other health issues, fatal overdoses will likely remain rare.

A greater concern is that users will combine marijuana with other substances and/or drive a vehicle while under the influence of the drug.

DEA Bulletin BUL-089-14 – Cannabis Toxicity Death, March 2014

DEA Bulletin BUL-089-14 – Cannabis Toxicity Death, March 2014 [4 Pages, 1.1MB]

https://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/dea/BUL-089-14.pdf

The post DEA Bulletin BUL-089-14 – Cannabis Toxicity Death, March 2014 first appeared on The Black Vault.

According to the CPSC:

The CPSC is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard or can injure vulnerable poulations like children and the elderly. The CPSC’s work to ensure the safety of consumer products – such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals – contributed significantly to the 30% decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 40 years.

As more consumer products employ nanotechnology, concerns are increasing regarding potential health effects associated with human exposure to this technology. There is a growing use of compounds or materials that have been produced using nanotechnologies that directly manipulate matter at the atomic level and fabrication of materials that could not have been produced in the past. Although these nanomaterials may have the same chemical composition as non-nanomaterials, at the nanoscale they  may demonstrate different physical and chemical properties, and behave differently in the environment and the human body. Members of the U.S. Congress have stated that they recognize nanotechnology as a new technology utilized in the manufacture of consumer products, and that they expect the Commission to review the utilization and safety of its application in consumer products consistent with the Commission’s mission. In support of that mission, CPSC requested additional funding in 2011 to collect data on nanomaterials use in consumer products. Since then, the CPSC budget has grown substantially to support EHS R&D and related projects.

Declassified Documents

 CPSC Nanotechnology Team Intranet Site,and each page connected to that home page by one click, as of June 2016 [19 Pages, 1.9MB]

The post CPSC Nanotechnology Team Intranet Site first appeared on The Black Vault.