Navy Denies Release of Classified UAP Briefing Video Unearthed by The Black Vault

NOTE: This story has been updated with the official appeal denial. That letter is available below the article.

The United States Navy has denied the release of a classified video depicting a briefing on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) led by the former head of the UAP Task Force, Jay Stratton. The Black Vault discovered the existence of the video in an email released through a FOIA case with NASA last year.

The email, dated October 1, 2020, was written by Michael Gold, former Associate Administrator for Space Policy and Partnerships at NASA. Gold was responding to Randy Cruz, Senior Advisor to the Administrator for NASA. The correspondence revealed the existence of the classified video, which was previously unknown to the public.

Following this revelation, The Black Vault filed a FOIA request for a copy of the video. The Navy accepted FOIA case DON-NAVY-2022-004903 but ultimately denied the release of the video, citing FOIA exemption (b)(1). This exemption applies to information that is properly classified in the interest of national defense or foreign policy.

Unwilling to accept the denial, The Black Vault has filed an appeal, arguing that the public has a right to know about the government’s investigations into UAP. Appeals are an essential part of the FOIA process, allowing requesters to challenge agency decisions and push for greater transparency. The Black Vault’s appeal focuses on the significance of the video to public understanding of UAP and the potential for partial release of the information, with sensitive portions redacted.

As the appeal process unfolds, the quest for answers about UAP and the government’s handling of these phenomena continues. The Black Vault remains committed to uncovering the truth and shedding light on the mysteries that surround these unexplained occurrences.

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UPDATE: On May 31, 2023, the appeal was denied. The pertinent section of the appeal letter (available in full below) was the following:

Original FOIA Denial

Appeal Response Letter