After years of bureaucratic obstacles and inconsistent responses, The Black Vault has obtained a highly sought after document through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) that directly references the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), reported since 2017 as “The Pentagon’s Secret Search for UFOs“. The draft memo, never-before-seen by the public and authored by former DoD counterintelligence agent Luis Elizondo, details AATIP’s mission as “focusing on beyond next generation technologies in the areas of lift, propulsion, cloaking, and human effects,” and describes how AATIP was gathering information on “unexplained or unknown aerial systems” from various DoD components and elements. But more importantly to some, it may even confirm Elizondo’s official work within the program, a claim denied by the Pentagon since 2019.

The journey to obtain these records began on May 5, 2021, when The Black Vault filed FOIA case 21-F-0964. The request specifically sought communications between Elizondo and Neill Tipton, a senior DoD official that was also one of three named individuals in Elizondo’s DoD Inspector General (IG) complaint filed on May 3, 2021. This complaint alleged that all three (Tipton, Pentagon Spokesperson Susan Gough and former Director for Defense Intelligence [Intelligence and Security] Garry Reid) “conducted retribution and provided false information to the public,” and were also accused by Elizondo of “abusing government authority” and “illegal destruction of information.” This complaint stemmed from Elizondo’s belief that he was being mistreated after his resignation from the Pentagon due to his decision to speak about his time investigating UFOs, now being referred to as Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP).

After amending the FOIA request to focus only on emails between Elizondo and Tipton containing keywords such as “unidentified,” “AATIP,” and “UAP,” (and others) in response to the DoD’s request to narrow the search scope, the DoD initially replied in December 2021, stating that “no records” were found.

Believing differently, The Black Vault filed an appeal within one day, asserting that responsive documents existed. This assertion was based on knowledge gained from various sources and research means during the timeframe leading up to the case filing. The information learned through this process, combined with the specific keywords provided for the FOIA request along with the date range requested for the search (2008 – 2017), left little to no doubt that responsive records existed.

“September 25, 2017, at 11:23a, Mr. Luis Elizondo sent an e-mail to Mr. Neill Tipton which included the ‘AATIP’ acronym in the body,” the appeal stated. This fact alone should have yielded at least one responsive document to the request, which was used as the basis of the appeal.

The appeal letter filed by The Black Vault went on to further express deep frustration with the FOIA process, the DoD, and their handling of cases related to AATIP and Elizondo, stating:

“Let me add within the body of this appeal, on how frustrating some of these requests are getting. I believe, and hope, your office has seen the lengths I’ve gone to try and make your efforts easier by closing / withdrawing requests, to reduce paperwork etc. I am also always there, when possible, to amend requests to also lessen the burden of a workload. However, as you can see with this case alone (and now many others), cases are having me reduce the scope to help, but after months (and sometimes years) of waiting, they are inappropriately closed, and I have to then go through the lengthy appeal process. There are NUMEROUS agencies that I can cite, where requests are processed for communications between two people, without stipulating a keyword search. I am sure a keyword reduction in scope helps, but as we can see here, that is likely creating more problems; generating more paperwork; and wasting more time than it is actually helping.”

The appeal was also cc’d electronically to the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS), which acts as a mediator between FOIA requesters and federal agencies, helping to resolve disputes and ensure proper handling of FOIA requests.

The appeal was ultimately granted in February 2022, and the case was remanded back to the DoD for further processing. Despite this, The Black Vault never received an acknowledgment that the case had been reopened, as required by law. When The Black Vault inquired about the status in August 2023, a year and a half after the case should have been reopened and acknowledged, the DoD responded that an acknowledgment letter had not been sent as it was “overlooked.” Although it was then sent that day, and the case was renumbered as 21-FR-0964 due to the remand, there was no estimated date of completion given.

In a puzzling sequence of events that followed, the documents related to FOIA case 21-FR-0964 were later  allegedly released on March 29, 2024. But yet again, The Black Vault never received that correspondence, either, and no explanation was given as to why that was by the writing of this article. The results of that case, once the documents were finally received just this week, in a moment.

But first, it turned out that the same documents requested in 21-FR-0964 happened to turn up and were released in May 2024 under FOIA case 21-F-1154, but they had extensive redactions. This case was originally filed by The Black Vault in June 2021.

These redactions included the complete blacking out of a crucial memo on AATIP which was attached to one of the emails written by Elizondo that was released in that case. In addition, another reference to AATIP in one of the emails was also mysteriously redacted, even though it had already been published unofficially and was available in the public domain through Elizondo’s IG complaint about 2 years prior and a portion of the same referenced in Popular Mechanics another 2 years prior to that.

These actions further complicated the DoD’s already questionable handling of these types of requests. The DoD had claimed FOIA’s “deliberative process” exemption known as (b)(5) to justify the redactions of AATIP related material, despite some of it already being available in the public domain for years. From a legal standpoint, The Black Vault felt none of these actions were justified, and an appeal was filed. As of the writing of this article, that appeal remains open. This was all reported by The Black Vault on May 13, 2024.

Now back to FOIA case 21-FR-0964.

This week, sparked by the release of Elizondo’s new book Imminent which contains numerous references to Tipton, a follow up was sent by The Black Vault regarding FOIA case 21-FR-0964 to check on the status. Although no explanation was given, the same day the follow up was sent, the FOIA case officer emailed the final FOIA response letter that was dated March 29, 2024, nearly 5 months ago; an email thread between Elizondo and Tipton about “responsibilities for AATIP” being transferred between the two gentlemen which mysteriously had redactions lifted contrary to FOIA case 21-F-1154; and the AATIP memo that The Black Vault was fighting for through appeal on FOIA case 21-F-1154, which now appeared nearly entirely unredacted.

The documents, which were first denied by the DoD to even exist three years ago, were now found. As of the writing of this article, no explanation as to either why the DoD never found them, or why they were not truthful in their 2021 response to The Black Vault, has been given.

This AATIP memo, never-before-seen by the public until now, was originally drafted in 2017 by Elizondo in hopes that it would be later issued by then Deputy Secretary of Defense (DepSecDef) Patrick M. Shanahan. It confirms the existence of AATIP and the scope of the program. The memo states that AATIP was a program with a strategic focus on “beyond next generation technologies in the areas of lift, propulsion, cloaking, and human effects,” and sought “unexplained or unknown aerial systems” information from all DoD elements “for the purposes of intelligence analysis and exploitation.”

The memo states that the “DoD continues to consider AATIP a priority, especially given recent advancements with Unmanned Aerial Surveillance (UAS) platforms that are becoming widely available.”

Further to that, it states that OUSDI “has a demonstrated interest for any and all reporting involving anomalous UAS threats” and it goes on to order that “all DoD elements are hereby required to provide a courtesy copy of any data and information obtained from the field that related to unexplained or unknown aerial systems to the Director of Defense Intelligence for Technical Collection and Special Programs.” That position was held by Neill Tipton, and this memorandum, if officially issued by the DepSecDef department-wide, would ultimately make Tipton’s desk the central point of information related to AATIP once information was received from DoD elements.

Although it does not reference “UAP” or “UFOs” specifically, the mention of “unexplained or unknown aerial systems” and “anomalous UAS threats” makes it the first official DoD document of its kind to connect “AATIP” to such a mission investigating “unexplained” objects.

In addition to giving a rundown of AATIP’s scope and mission, the existence of this memo may also directly contradict the DoD’s ongoing assertions that Elizondo had no official role in the program. This has been a claim by the Pentagon that has fueled much controversy that has lasted for years. Could the revelations within the memo have played a role in why the DoD wanted to deny the memo’s existence three years ago? Or, was this truly an administrative oversight, and the documents were simply “overlooked” similar to how the DoD failed to send an acknowledgement letter once the case was remanded back to them that sought it in the first place?

Regardless of why this memo was not discovered and denied to exist in 2021, it likely won’t settle the debate about Elizondo’s claimed leadership of AATIP or the stated objectives of AATIP once and for all.

For some, this memo will absolutely be viewed as a pivotal piece of evidence in the ongoing debate over AATIP’s scope and Elizondo’s involvement. To them, this will serve as undeniable proof, if they even felt undeniable proof wasn’t already out there to begin with.

To others, the release of this may simply be seen as a draft memorandum that was authored by Elizondo, without definitively proving his leadership or directorship of a “funded” “UFO program” known as “AATIP,” and in the end, to them, it will prove nothing.

This juxtaposition is a true testament to the divide between skeptics and believers in today’s conversation about the UFO topic.

But even as early as just days ago, the DoD still continues to deny Elizondo’s official involvement in AATIP — a claim Elizondo still strongly disputes. However, that was prior to the DoD releasing and the public seeing this memorandum. So, The Black Vault reached out to the Pentagon for comment.

“How does this not contradict the DoD’s stance on Luis Elizondo, and the denial of his official responsibilities on AATIP? Why would he be drafting such a memorandum if AATIP had long been cancelled (per DoD), and that he had no official responsibilities on it (per DoD)?”, the first question asked.

After publication of this article, Pentagon spokesperson Susan Gough submitted comment by stating, “Luis Elizondo had no assigned responsibilities for AATIP.  As noted in the Historical Record Report Volume 1, available on www.aaro.mil, AATIP was never an official, recognized DoD program. The draft, unsigned ‘memo for the record’ that you reference was crafted by Mr. Elizondo and appears to have been unsolicited.”

Given the opportunity to respond to the above, Elizondo added, “The memo they claim was ‘unsolicited’ was in fact a request by none other than the Secretary’s front office staff. Not only is the DoD spokesperson wrong, but any due diligence on their part would have illustrated this. This is yet another sad attempt to once again deceive the American people by a select few in the Pentagon’s PAO. Unfortunately, this type of behavior conducted by a few bad faith individuals, only further damages the credibility of an organization who has very little credibility left to offer. The sad truth is that this type of behavior reflects poorly on the entire Pentagon, including the majority who are patriotic, loyal, and selfless. Fortunately, the truth always comes out as it always has.”

This was followed up by, “Why would the DoD tell me [this memo]  didn’t exist, but I later would be successful getting it after an appeal from the same office that denied it existed in the first place?”

After publication of this article, Pentagon spokesperson Susan Gough submitted comment by stating, “As indicated in the response letter to you dated December 14, 2021, regarding 21-F-0964, the initial FOIA search did not yield responsive records.”

Given the opportunity to respond to the above, Elizondo added, “This response isn’t even worthy or a response. It’s clear that obfuscation and deceit is the new norm for the same few at the PAO office. I would once again remind them that propaganda and disinformation against the American public is illegal.”

Elizondo also provided the following written statement to the Black Vault about this release, which underscores his thoughts about the importance of it all:

“Thanks to The Black Vault’s continued pursuit of the facts, the DoD had no choice but to relent and admit the obvious. 1) AATIP was a real program and funded. 2) My former employer, the OUSD(I) has had, and currently has a keen interest in AATIP and the UAP topic. 3) There remains a clear national security nexus as it relates to UAP. My fear is that unless more people demand the truth, this information which many of us already knew, would never see the light of day and remain hidden from the public. An excellent example of The Black Vault not taking ‘no’ for an answer.” 

As the controversy surrounding AATIP will undoubtedly continue, The Black Vault remains committed to bringing the truth to light, whatever that may be, despite the challenges posed by the DoD’s problematic FOIA process.

###

Document Archive

21-FR-0964 FOIA Case File Release [4 Pages, 1.43MB]

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The post AATIP Memo Unveiled After FOIA Battle: DoD Inconsistencies Exposed first appeared on The Black Vault.

The original request sought emails which contain the words  “FOIA” and “Freedom of Information”.

The controversy revolves around allegations that Dr. Morens used his personal email account to evade FOIA requests and potentially deleted critical federal records during the COVID-19 pandemic. Reports from the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic suggest that Dr. Morens advised his colleagues to use personal emails and delete messages to protect themselves and Dr. Anthony Fauci from public scrutiny. These actions have raised serious concerns about transparency and accountability within the NIH.

The emails show Dr. Morens expressing concern over the volume of emails that could be scrutinized under FOIA, indicating the potential for thousands of documents to be reviewed. His discussions include suggestions to streamline the process, such as forwarding emails to a central source or hiring additional help to manage the overwhelming task of compliance. This illustrates the challenges faced by NIH officials in balancing transparency with the demands of the pandemic.

In addition to these logistical concerns, the emails also highlight Dr. Morens’ apparent relief when certain FOIA requests were closed, suggesting a desire to avoid further scrutiny.

The documents reveal his strategic approach to handling information requests, which could be seen as an attempt to shield himself and his colleagues from external examination. W

For those interested in examining the documents in detail, the full release is provided below.

Document Archive

NIH FOIA Case 61804 [335 Pages, 52MB]

The post New Documents Highlight NIH Adviser’s Controversial Handling of Emails and FOIA Requests first appeared on The Black Vault.

In a recent FOIA release profiled on The Black Vault, researcher Grant Lavac discovered an email referencing the UAP Caucus Working Group. Within this email, a long list of redactions hid every recipient of the message, except one: Brian D. Fishpaugh. This revelation prompted a targeted FOIA request by The Black Vault aimed at uncovering any potential communication related to Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) within Fishpaugh’s email records.

Fishpaugh, who serves as the Deputy National Intelligence Manager for Aviation (NIM-A) within the ODNI, became the focal point of FOIA case DF-2024-00285. The request, filed on June 18, 2024, by The Black Vault, sought emails from Fishpaugh’s inbox that contained various UAP and UFO related keywords, along with those mentioning named individuals (which included alleged “UFO whistleblowers”) connected to the topic.

The objective was to uncover any communication that could shed light on the collaboration and research efforts within the Five Eyes alliance regarding UAPs, or the UAP issue as a whole.

To provide some additional background on Fishpaugh’s role at ODNI, he was asked to do a presentation at the Counter UAS Technology USA conference in early December 2023. As the Deputy National Intelligence Manager for Aviation, he focused on “Ensuring decision advantage and promulgating strategic guidance to secure the air domain” during his talk. His presentation covered a strategic outlook on pacing threats in the short-to-mid-term, the current posture of US government solutions to counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS), and future efforts to further C-UAS strategies.

However, the FOIA response from the ODNI, dated July 18, 2024, produced an unexpected result just one month after it was filed. Instead of a standard release of email records (which are sometimes redacted), or a straightforward full denial due to national security reasons; the ODNI issued what is known as a “GLOMAR” response. The term “GLOMAR” originates from the Glomar Explorer, a CIA vessel involved in a covert operation in the 1970s. A GLOMAR response essentially means that the agency “can neither confirm nor deny the existence” of the requested records. This type of response is rare and typically reserved for highly sensitive matters.

The letter from the ODNI stated:

“This letter responds to your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests received on June 18, 2024, by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), relating to Brian Fishpaugh. This request was processed under the FOIA, 5 U.S.C. § 552, as amended. ODNI neither confirms nor denies the existence or nonexistence of the requested records. The fact of the existence or nonexistence of requested records is protected from disclosure pursuant to Section 102A of the National Security Act of 1947, as amended, 50 U.S.C. § 3024(m). Therefore, this request is denied pursuant to FOIA exemption (b)(3).”

FOIA exemption (b)(3) permits the withholding of information that is specifically exempted from disclosure by statute. In this case, the National Security Act of 1947 was cited, indicating that the requested records, if they exist, are considered highly sensitive and integral to national security.

Numerous agencies, including numerous military branches within the Department of Defense (DoD) along with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and others, all have processed similar FOIA requests related to UAPs without resorting to GLOMAR responses. These agencies have searched email boxes for the exact same keywords without invoking a GLOMAR, but in some cases, have denied records in full for national security reasons. In other cases, partially redacted or completed unredacted records are released. Either way, agencies generally will process the request, and not issue a GLOMAR response.

What information related to UAPs could be so sensitive that it warrants such a response from ODNI? Why was Fishpaugh’s name the only unredacted in the past FOIA release, indicating his connection to UAP is openly acknowledged by the U.S. government, yet responsive material can neither be confirmed nor denied that it exists? The refusal to even acknowledge the existence of these records suggests that there may be significant developments or classified activities related to UAP research and collaboration within the Five Eyes alliance or the ODNI.

The request will be appealed by The Black Vault. When those results are available, they will be posted in a future article.

###

UPDATE:

The Black Vault’s appeal was denied.

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The post ODNI Issues Rare GLOMAR Response to FOIA Request on Five Eyes Alliance UAP-Related Emails first appeared on The Black Vault.

“What is the FBI? How did it come into being? What has it accomplished? What are its powers? Above all, what does the mere fact of its existence mean to Every Citizen of the United States? This book, written with the cooperation of J. Edgar Hoover and FBI Personnel will answer these questions once and for all. THE FBI STORY, written by one of America’s top reporters, Don Whitehead, and with a Foreword by J. Edgar Hoover, takes you behind the scenes to reveal the record of America’s crusade against crime and subversion. THE FBI STORY names names, places and events. You’ll read about cases which have made today’s headlines as well as about the celebrated cases and notorious events which made yesterday’s. You’ll read about the Black Tom explosion and other acts of sabotage which were the prelude to America’s entrance into World War I. You will find the case histories of the Wall Street Explosion and “Palmer’s Raids”; the Harding Era and Gaston Means. The gangsters’ rise to power in the roaring twenties and the “lady in red”, Pretty Ana Cumpanas, who betrayed John Dillinger, and Al Capone. Here too are the Lindbergh Kidnapping, the Kansas City Massacre and many other cases which placed the FBI in the forefront of the public’s imagination. THE FBI STORY is the story too of Pearl Harbor, the capture of the Japanese espionage messages, the German saboteurs’ invasion of the United States and their capture, and other behind the scenes dramas of World War II. The book tells of the FBI’s secret operations in South and Central America and the experiences of its Special Intelligence Service (SIS). How the FBI tricked the Germans through double agent radio stations is a “stranger than fiction” story. You’ll read of the FBI’s role in combating postwar crime as Don Whitehead reports on the kidnap murder of little Bobby Greenlease and the murder of a mother by her son high over a Colorado beet field when a plane fell carrying passengers and crew to their deaths. The fight against Communism in the United States, Smith Act prosecutions and the gathering of evidence which made these prosecutions possible are all portrayed. Also related are the cases of Hiss and Klaus Fuchs and the theft of the atomic secrets and the Rosenberg and Greenglass cases, which are revealed in detail. The history of the FBI in reality represents the people’s efforts to achieve government by law. THE FBI STORY, then, is the story of America itself and the struggles to attain this ideal.”

Document Archive

FBI File: The FBI Story A Report to the People, by Don Whitehead – FBI Release #1 – [499 Pages, 270MB]

FBI File: The FBI Story A Report to the People, by Don Whitehead – FBI Release #2 – [503 Pages, 313MB]

FBI File: The FBI Story A Report to the People, by Don Whitehead – FBI Release #3 – [500 Pages, 94MB]

FBI File: The FBI Story A Report to the People, by Don Whitehead – FBI Release #4 – [519 Pages, 93MB]

FBI File: The FBI Story A Report to the People, by Don Whitehead – FBI Release #5 – [504 Pages, 52MB]

FBI File: The FBI Story A Report to the People, by Don Whitehead – FBI Release #6 – [497 Pages, 50MB]

FBI File: The FBI Story A Report to the People, by Don Whitehead – FBI Release #7 – [452 Pages, 251MB]

FBI File: The FBI Story A Report to the People, by Don Whitehead – FBI Release #8 – [247 Pages, 44.1MB]

The post FBI File: The FBI Story A Report to the People (Book), by Don Whitehead first appeared on The Black Vault.

When Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests are processed by the FBI, they will sometimes send CD’s (or printed pages) of “pre-processed pages”. This speeds up processing time, and generally (according to the FBI) the pre-processed pages that were released in previous FOIA requests, generally satisfies each respective request.

If the pre-processed package does not seem to contain what a requester is looking for, they can then go after additional pages, and file another request (which generally gets tacked on to the first case number, unless 30+ days pass).

In April of 2017, I went after what I believed should exist, which is a reference list of all pre-processed pages, of various file subjects. It took until August of 2020, but the FBI released the 192-page list, in FULL.

In November of 2022, The Black Vault filed a new request for the list, since quite a few years had elapsed since the release of the last one. On May 8, 2024, that new version was released, but in a much more scrambled way wherein nothing was alphabetical like the first one.

Both downloads are available below.

Document Archive

The FBI’s Pre-Processed List of Previously Released Files, Received May 8, 2024 [246 Pages, 69.7MB]

The FBI’s Pre-Processed List of Previously Released Files, Received August 28, 2020 [195 Pages, 4.2MB]

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The post The FBI’s Pre-Processed List of Previously Released Files first appeared on The Black Vault.

In a recent development following a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request by The Black Vault, the National Security Agency (NSA) has denied access to all documents concerning changes to the agency’s policy on releasing Intellipedia-related information. This decision marks a significant setback in efforts aimed at promoting transparency within the intelligence community.

Intellipedia, a system akin to a classified version of Wikipedia, is utilized by members of the U.S. intelligence community to share information. Historically, the NSA had been more forthcoming with information from Intellipedia, and has released hundreds of entries to The Black Vault through various FOIA requests.

However, a policy shift in 2023 led the agency to adopt a “GLOMAR” response, refusing to confirm or deny the existence of requested information on all related FOIA requests, and ultimately denying them all. All appeals submitted by The Black Vault in 2023, which totaled 130, were all denied,

A new FOIA request was filed on April 14, 2024, seeking records including memos, emails, presentations, and any documentation pertaining to the policy change itself, covering from 2021 to the present. The intent of this request was to understand the rationale behind the shift towards less transparency, which contrasts sharply with the previous decade’s practices of releasing Intellipedia-related information, albeit, in some cases, partially redacted.

The NSA’s response letter, dated April 30, 2024, outlines the full denial of the request, citing multiple exemptions under the FOIA. These include:

• FOIA Exemption (b)(1) – Classification Under Executive Order 13526: The NSA argues that releasing the requested information could “reasonably be expected to cause serious damage to national security,” as it remains classified as SECRET.
• FOIA Exemption (b)(3) – Statutory Protection: Certain information is protected from disclosure by specific U.S. Code statutes, thereby justifying withholding under FOIA’s third exemption.
• FOIA Exemption (b)(5) – Civil Discovery Privileges: Information involving internal communications, which are protected as attorney-client privileged information and attorney work product, falls under the fifth exemption.

The Black Vault has filed an appeal of the decision. Whether this denial will be overturned on appeal remains to be seen, it certainly sets the stage for ongoing discussions about the balance between national security and the public’s right to know, especially when past actions supported transparency to an extent, yet that has been exchanged for immense secrecy – a change in itself that now remains fully classified and exempt from disclosure.

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FOIA Denial Letter

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The post NSA Denies Release of Intellipedia Policy Changes Citing Security Risks first appeared on The Black Vault.

The Freedom of Information Act allows any requester to get as FOIA case logs.

Below, you will find a list of all FOIA requests and Mandatory Declassification Review (MDR) requests made by the public to various agencies.

These are very useful to see who is requesting what and can be very useful for ideas!

FOIA Case Log Memorandums

• DoD Memorandum on FOIA Case Logs (10 July 2008)

Declassified Case Logs

U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM)

FOIA Case Logs

1. 2010-2011 [2 Pages, 1.5MB]
2. 2016 [2 Pages, 1.5MB]

Air Combat Command (ACC)

1. 2012 [100 Pages]

Army

FOIA Case Logs

1.  2018 [47 Pages, 2MB]
2.  2016 [7 Pages, 0.6MB]
3.  2013 [1088 Pages, 7.91MB]
4. 2012
5.  2010-2016 MDR Log
6. FY 2008
7. FY 2007OS
8. FY 2006

Army / Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM)

FOIA Case Logs

1. 2018 [10 Pages, 3.6MB]
2. 2014 [18 Pages, 1.1MB]
3. 2010-2011 [46 Pages, 8.61MB]
4. FY 2008 [21 Pages, 4.1MB]
5. 2009 [17 Pages, 4.71MB]

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve

1. 2010-2011 [30 Pages, 90kb]

Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG)

FOIA Case Logs

1. FY 2018 [15 Pages, 1.2MB]
2. FY 2016
3. FY 2015
4. FY 2008nat

Oldest Pending FOIA Requests

1. 5 Oldest FOIA Requests and Notes – as of June 2016 [381 Pages, 19.5MB]

Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP)

1.  2013 [6 Pages, 0.3MB]

Bureau of Prisons (BOP)

1. CY 2007-03/28/2013 [976 Pages, 1.72MB] – Unfortunately, this FOIA Case Log did not have the topic of the requests, but is archived here for reference.

Center for Disease Control (CDC)

1. 2010-2013 [170 Pages, 6.5MB]
2. 2009 [66 Pages, 12.8MB]
3. 2008 [71 Pages, 12.4MB]

Central Command (CENTCOM)

1. 2010-2011 [390 Pages, 3.1MB]
2. 2008 [71 Pages, 12.4MB]

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

FOIA Case Logs

1.  2018 [106 Pages, 48MB]
2.  2017 [87 Pages, 52.2MB]
3.  2016 [81 Pages, 34MB]
4.  2015 [103 Pages, 63.4MB]
5.  2014 [96 Pages, 4.5MB]
6.  2013 [156 Pages, 14.06MB]
7.  2012 [39 Pages, 4.24MB]
8.  2011 [78 Pages, 9.51MB]
9.  1986 [82 Pages, 7.7MB]

Mandatory Declassification Review Logs 

1.  2018 [106 Pages, 48MB]
2.  2017 [12 Pages, 6.8MB]
3.  2013-2015 [32 Pages, 1.2MB]
4.  July – December 2012 [5 Pages, 1.2MB]

Coast Guard (USCG)

1. August 27, 2011 – December 31, 2013 [355 Pages, 2.61MB]

Comptroller of the Currency, Administrator of National Banks

1. 2006 [110 Pages, 15.07mb]

Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency

FOIA Case Logs

1. 2014-2019 [37 Pages, 28MB]
2. 2008-2013 [13 Pages, 2.65MB]

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

FOIA Case Logs

1.  2016 [1,779 Pages, 4.0MB]

Defense Contract Audit Agency  (DCAA)

1. 2018 [4 Pages, 300KB]
2. 2016 [8 Pages, 150KB]
3. 2015 [8 Pages, 150KB]
4. 2014 [8 Pages, 200KB]
5. 2013 [10 Pages, 130KB]
6. 2012 [9 Pages, 130KB]
7.  2010-2011 [35 Pages, 350KB]

Defense Contract Management Agency  (DCMA)

FOIA Case Logs

1. 2018 [11 Pages, 0.3MB]
2. 2013 [6 Pages, 176KB]
3.  2012 [13 Pages, 161KB]
4.  2010-2011 [192 Pages, 0.9MB]

Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS)

1. 2013 [5 Pages, 0.3MB]
2. 2012 [11 Pages, 0.6MB]
3.  2010-2011 [15 Pages, 1.14MB]

Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA)

FOIA Case Logs

1. 2016 [72 Pages, 3.6MB]
2. 2013 [10 Pages, 0.1MB]
3. 2012 [11 Pages, 0.1MB]
4. 2011 [12 Pages, 0.1MB]
5. 2010 [47 Pages, 0.15MB]
6. 2009 [29 Pages, 4.1MB]
7. 2008 [36 Pages, 9.5MB]
8. 2003 – 2007 [118 Pages]

Mandatory Declassification Review (MDR) Logs

1. 2013-2015 [2 Pages, 0.7MB]

Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)

FOIA Case Logs

1.  2018 [57 Pages, 1MB]
2.  2017 (Fiscal Year) [87 Pages, 2.3MB]
3.  2017 (Calendar Year of FOIA, MDR and Appeals Log) [159 Pages, 2.3MB]
4.  2014-2016 [209 Pages, 52.7 MB]
5.  2013 [39 Pages, 5.9 MB]
6.  2012 [32 Pages, 5.40 MB]
7.  2010-2011 [74 Pages, 12.2 MB]
8. 2009 – 5 Oldest FOIA Requests [117 Pages, 11.8MB] – This FOIA request for a copy of the top 5 OLDEST FOIA Requests, took nearly 8 years to process.
9. 2001-2009 [299 Pages, 91.67 MB]

FOIA Appeal Logs

1.  2017 (Calendar Year of FOIA, MDR and Appeals Log) [159 Pages, 2.3MB]
2.  2014-2015 [7 Pages, 1.9 MB]

Mandatory Declassification Review (MDR) Logs

1.  2017 (Calendar Year of FOIA, MDR and Appeals Log) [159 Pages, 2.3MB]
2.  2013-2015 [53 Pages, 5MB]

Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)

1. 2016 [226 Pages, 1.1 MB]
2. 2014 [287 Pages, 1.31 MB]
3. 2013 [492 Pages, 1.31 MB]
4.  2012 [392 Pages, 78.5 MB]
5. 2010 – 2011 [21 Pages, 3 MB]

Defense Security Service (DSS)

1.  2014 [37 Pages,0.3 MB]
2.  2013 [23 Pages, 2.24 MB]

Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB)

FOIA Case Logs

1.  2018 [3 Pages, 1MB]
2.  2007 – 2017 [11 Pages, 2MB]
3.  2001 – 2006 [10 Pages, 1MB]

FOIA Appeal Logs

1.  Appeal Log, 01/01/2009 – 10/31/2016 [5 Pages, 3.4MB]

Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC)

1.  2017 [11 Pages, 0.5MB]
2. 2016 [.xlsx File, 22kb]
3. 2013 [.xlsx File, 22kb]
4.  2012 [5 Pages, 2.2MB]
5.  2011 [3 Pages, 20kb]
6.  2010 [3 Pages, 30kb]

Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA)

FOIA Case Logs

1.  2017 [17 Pages, 5.5MB]
2.  2016 [14 Pages, 3.7MB]
3.  2013 [CSV File, 0.1MB]
4.  2012 [6 Pages, 0.6MB]

Mandatory Declassification Review (MDR) Logs

1.  2017 [17 Pages, 5.5MB]
2. 2013-2015 [29 Pages, 0.7MB]

Department of Agriculture (USDA)

FOIA Case Logs

1.  CY 2016 [25 Pages, 3.5MB]
2.  FY 2013 [67 Pages, 0.7MB]
3.  FY 2009
4. FY 2008 [172 Pages, 0.9MB]
5. FY 2006-2007 [31 Pages, 18MB]

FOIA Appeal Logs

1.  FOIA Appeals Log, 01/01/2009-11/10/2016 [7 Pages, 0.5MB]

Department of Agriculture (USDA) / Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)

1.  FOIA Appeals Log, 01/01/2009-10/31/2016 [4 Pages, 0.5MB]

Department of the Air Force (USAF)

FOIA Case Logs

1. 2015 [74 Pages, 0.6MB]
2. 2008 [4 Pages, 450k]
3. February 1999 [100 Pages]

Mandatory Declassification Review (MDR) Logs

1. 2016 [29 Pages, 0.7MB]
2. 2013-2015 [29 Pages, 0.7MB]

Department of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI)

FOIA Case Logs

1. 2018 [29 Pages, 8.1MB]
2. 2008 [24 Pages, 4.11MB]

Department of the Air Force Retirement Home (AFRH)

1.  2010-2012 [5 Pages, 4.11mb]

Department of Commerce

FOIA Case Logs

1. FY 2013 [42 Pages, 0.7MB]
2. 2010-2011 [32 Pages, 9.3MB]
3. 2011 – September 2012 [51 Pages, 12.5MB]

Department of Commerce / Office of the Inspector General

FOIA Case Logs

1. 2010-2011 [12 Pages, 2.1MB]

Department of Commerce – International Trade Administration

1.  7/1/2010 – 9/30/2010 [21 Pages, 1.7MB]

Department of Defense (DOD) / Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS)

1. 5 Oldest FOIA Requests, as of February of 2014 [11 Pages, 1.5MB]
2. FY 2012 [73 Pages, 872k]
3. FY 2011 [115 Pages, 0.6mb]
4. FY 2010 [99 Pages, 2.0mb]
5. FY 2009 [236 Pages, 2.3mb]
6. FY 2008 [172 Pages, 922k]
7. FY 2007 [158 Pages, 3.36mb]
8. FY 2006 [148 Pages, 977k]
9. FY 2005 [112 pages, 2.07mb]
10. FY 2004 [146 Pages, 469k]
11. FY 2003 [136 Pages, 449k]
12. FY 2002 [108 Pages, 364k]
13. FY 2001 [109 Pages, 374k]
14. FY 2000 [57 Pages, 228k]

Department of Defense / Inspector General (DoD/IG)

FOIA Case Logs

1. 2016 [43 Pages, 1.2MB]
2. 2012-2015 [147 Pages, 8.2MB]
3. 2010-2011 [112 Pages, 0.55MB]

FOIA Appeals Logs

1. 2012-2015  [11 Pages, 0.7MB]

Mandatory Declassification Review (MDR) Logs

1. MDR Log of all DOD/IG MDR cases through November 9, 2016 [4 Pages, 0.6MB]

Department of Education

1.  5 Oldest FOIA Requests and Appeals (as of December 2016) [113 Pages, 15.5MB]

Department of Energy (DOE)

FOIA Case Logs

1. 2016 [153 Pages, 3.4MB]
2. 2013 [112 Pages, 1.22MB]
3.  2010 [101 Pages, 13.71MB]
4.  2009 [112 Pages, 922k]

FOIA Appeals Logs

1. Appeal Log, 01/01/2009-11/1/2016 [12 Pages, 0.6MB]

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

FOIA Case Logs

1.  2004-2018 (.ZIP file of .PDF Files) [115MB]
2. 10 oldest Requests – a/o January 2020 [47 Pages, 10MB]

FOIA Appeals Logs

CY2018 [22 Pages, 10MB]

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) / Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

FOIA Case Logs

1.  2014-2016 (.ZIP file of Excel Spreadsheets) [10.1MB]

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) / Office of the Inspector General (OIG)

1. FY2010-2011 [198 Pages, 1.53mb]
2. 2009 (October – December) [32 Pages, 0.2mb]
3. FY 2009 [115 Pages, 2.6mb]
4. 2008 [18 Pages, 8.57mb]
5. FY 2007 (07-23-2007 through 11-30-2007) [47 Pages, 160kb]
6. FY 2007 (10-02-2006 through 07-23-2007) [47 Pages, 160kb]
7. FY 2006 (10-03-2005 through 09-26-2006) [47 Pages, 160kb]

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) / Science and Technology Directorate (S&T)

1. 2011-2016 [36 Pages, 0.9MB]

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

1.  2016 [505 Pages, 98.6MB]
2.  2009-2010 [409 Pages, 43.7MB]
3.  2008 [175 Pages, 22.5MB]

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) / Office of the Inspector General

1.  October 2010 – May 2016 [114 Pages, 23.2MB]

Department of State 

FOIA Case Logs

1.  2013-2014 [857 Pages, 9.9MB]
2.  2005-2013 [2,538 Pages, 49.2MB]

FOIA Appeal Logs

1.  2014-2015 [30 Pages, 3.3MB]

Department of State / Office of the Inspector General (STATE/OIG)

FOIA Case Logs

1.  2010-2016 [24 Pages, 1.2MB]

Department of the Interior (DOI)

1. 2016 [154 Pages, 10.7MB]
2. 2012 [19 Pages, 3.32MB]
3. 2010-2011 [19 Pages, 352kb]
4. 2007-2009 [19 Pages, 3.0MB]

Department of the Interior / Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (DOI/BOEM)

FOIA Case Logs

1. 2016 [12 Pages, 0.6MB]

Department of the Interior / Bureau of Indian Affairs (DOI/BIA)

FOIA Case Logs

1. 2016 [154 Pages, 8.5KB]

Department of the Interior / Fish & Wildlife Service (DOI/FWS)

FOIA Case Logs

1. 2016 [136 Pages, 1.7MB]

Department of the Interior / Inspector General (DOI/IG)

FOIA Case Logs

1. 2018 [47 Pages, 2MB]
2. 2016 [19 Pages, 0.7MB]
3. 2013 [8 Pages, 260KB]

Department of the Interior, Office of the Secretary (DOI/OS)

FOIA Case Logs

1. FY2007-2016 [376 Pages, 1.2MB]

Department of the Interior, United States Geological Survey (DOI/USGS)

FOIA Case Logs

1.  2016 [0.1 MB]

Department of the Justice / Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

FOIA Case Logs

1. 2016 [127 Pages, 1.3MB]

Department of the Justice / Office of Information Policy (DOJ/OIP)

FOIA Case Logs

1. 2010-2012 [250 Pages, 5.88MB]

Department of Justice / Executive Office for United States Attorneys (DOJ/EOUSA)

FOIA Case Logs

1. 2017-2020 [1,442 Pages, 102MB]

Department of Justice / Office of Legal Counsel (DOJ/OLC)

1. 01/01/2006-03/24/2016 [140 Pages, 9.9MB]

Office of Labor (DOL)

1.  2016 [388 Pages, 7.2MB]

Department of the Navy 

1.  CY 2017 [220 Pages, 9.5MB]
2.  FY 2013 [129 Pages, 0.5MB]
3.  2012 [275 Pages, 2.6MB]

Department of the Navy / Marine Corps

1. 2016 [125 Pages, 5.5MB]
2. 2013 [81 Pages, 1.7MB]
3.  2012 [31 Pages, 412kb]
4. 2010-2011 [58 Pages, 412kb]

Department of Transportation (DOT)

FOIA Case Logs

1. 2007-2012 [165 Pages, 1.2MB]

Mandatory Declassification Review Logs

1. 2013-2015 [1 Page, 0.7MB] – No MDR’s during these dates.

Department of Transportation (DOT) / Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)

FOIA Case Logs

1. 2016 [94 Pages, 1.2MB]

Department of Transportation / Office of the Inspector General

FOIA Case Logs

1. 2016 [9 Pages, 0.5MB]

Department of Transportation / Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)

FOIA Case Logs

1. 2014-2016 [31 Pages, 0.9MB]

FOIA Appeal Logs

1. Appeal Log, 01/01/2009-10/31/2016 [1 Page, 0.5MB]

Department of the Treasury 

FOIA Case Logs

1. 2007-2016 [585 Pages, 5.8MB]

Department of the Treasury, Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA)

FOIA Case Logs

1. 2016 [15 Pages, 2.5MB]
2. 2013 [16 Pages, 3.85MB]
3.  2012 [16 Pages, 3.85MB]
4. 2009 [47 Pages, 9.3MB]

FOIA Appeal Logs

1. 2000-2016 [34 Pages, 4.9MB]

Department of the Treasury, United States Mint

FOIA Case Logs

1. 2016 [9 Pages, 2.4MB]
2. 2012 [16 Pages, 3.5MB]

FOIA Appeal Logs

1. 2009-2016 [1 Page, 0.6MB]

Dugway Proving Ground (DPG)

1. 2010-2015 [7 Pages, 1.51MB] – This is how the document was received. Can the font get ANY smaller? (The PDF is zoomable)

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

FOIA Case Logs

1. EPA Claims on January 25, 2017, they no longer generate FOIA Case Logs, and they need to be generated at FOIAOnline.

Mandatory Declassification Review (MDR) Logs

1. Mandatory Declassification Review (MDR) Procedure [2 Pages, 0.4MB]
2. 2014-2015 [5 Pages, 0.5MB]

European Command  (EUCOM)

1. 2013 [11 Pages, 1.63MB]
2.  2010-2011 [5 Pages, 2.73MB]- Document was in poor condition. Is readable, but needs to be zoomed in. This is the state they sent it to me electronically.

Executive Office of the President (EOP)

1. 2009 [24 Pages, 10.46MB]

Executive Office of the President – Council on Environmental Quality (EOP/CEQ)

FOIA Case Logs

1. 2013-2016 [21 Pages, 1.5MB]

Executive Office of the President – Office of National Drug Control Policy

FOIA Appeal Logs

1. 2009-2016 [3 Pages, 0.5MB]

Executive Office of the President – Office of Science and Technology Policy (EOP/OSTP)

FOIA Case Logs

1. 2013 [9 Pages, 1.39MB]
2.  2010-2011 [13 Pages, 1.6MB]
3.  2009 [8 Pages, 1.5MB]

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

FOIA Case Logs

1. 2013 [178 Pages, 1.3MB]

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

FOIA Case Logs

1. 2018 [336 Pages, 110MB]
2. 2017 [585 Pages, 25MB]
3. 2016 [1,093 Pages, 242MB]
4. 2014 [775 Pages, 59.2MB]
5. 2013 [683 Pages, 176MB]
6. 2010-2011 [830 Pages, 127MB]

FOIA Appeal Logs

1. 2018 [11Pages, 3.3MB]
2. 2017 – FOIA Appeals Log [9 Pages, 4.2MB]
3. 2014-2015 – FOIA Appeals Log [20 Pages, 13.7MB]

Mandatory Declassification Review (MDR) Logs

1. 2018 [4 Pages, 2.2MB]
2. 2017 [2 Pages, 2MB]
3. 2013-2015 [6 Pages, 2MB]

Oldest FOIA Cases

1. 5 Oldest FOIA Requests/Appeals a/o 7/21/2015 [21 Pages, 8.2 MB]

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

1. 2013 [86 Pages, 0.6MB]
2.  2012 [83 Pages, 6.74MB]
3.  2010-2011 [174 Pages, 16.2MB]
4.  2009 [94 Pages, 2.5MB]

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

1. 10 Oldest FOIA Cases with Processing Notes, a/o August, 2018 [774 Pages, 87.1MB]
2. 10 Oldest FOIA Cases with Processing Notes, a/o June 24, 2016 [624 Pages, 81.7MB]

FOIA Case Logs

1. 2012-2016 [636 Pages, 61.4MB]
2. 2011 [27 Pages, 0.3MB]
3. 2010 [130 Pages, 1.1MB]
4. 2008 [76 Pages, 1.2MB]

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)

FOIA Case Logs

1. 2018 [20 Pages, 4MB]
2. 2015 [20 Pages, 1.0MB]

Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA)

FOIA Case Logs

1. 2006 [9 Pages, 2.1MB]

FOIA Appeal Logs

1. Appeal Log, 2009-10/3/2016 [19 Pages, 0.6MB]

Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC)

FOIA Case Logs

1. 2009-2016 [54 Pages, 2.1MB]

Federal Reserve Board (FRB)

1.  2014 [52 Pages, 0.6MB]

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

1.  2013-2015 [26 Pages, 2.4MB]
2.  2010-2012 [53 Pages, 0.3MB]

Government Accountability Office (GAO)

1.  2010-2013 [35 Pages, 0.9MB]

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)

1.  2010-2016 [42 Pages, 0.9MB]

Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)

FOIA Case Logs

1.  2010-2016 [43 Page, 12.2MB]

FOIA Appeal Logs

1.  2009-2016 [1 Page, 0.4MB]

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

FOIA Case Logs

1.  2017 [357 Pages, 1.7MB]
2.  2016 [476 Pages, 2.0MB]
3.  2010-2015 [2,118 Pages, 6.2MB]

Joint Personnel Recovery Agency (JPRA)

FOIA Case Logs

1.  2016 [5 Pages, 0.7MB]

Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB)

1.  2012-2016 [14 Pages, 0.6MB]

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

FOIA Case Logs

1.  FY 2017 [48 Pages, 21.2MB] (Includes MDR Log and Appeals Log)
2.  FY 2016 [20 Pages, 0.9MB]
3.  FY 2015 [31 Pages, 13.9MB]
4.  FY 2014 [22 Pages, 0.6MB]
5.  FY 2013 [33 Pages, 13.44MB]
6.  FY 2012 [38 Pages, 15.7MB]
7. FY 2010-2011 [140 Pages, 29 MB]
8. FY 2009 [11 Pages, 650KB]
9. FY 2008 [45 Pages, 6.14MB]
10. FY 2007 [41 Pages, 5.39MB]
11. FY 2006 [42 Pages, 5.9MB]

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) / Glenn Research Center (GRC)

FOIA Case Logs

1.  2009 [9 Pages, 1.5MB]

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) / Office of the Inspector General (OIG)

FOIA Case Logs

1.  2018 [6 Pages, 2.5MB]

National Air & Space Intelligence Center (NASIC)

FOIA Case Logs

1.  2015-2021 [24 Pages, 16.3MB]

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)

FOIA Case Logs

1. 2012 [13 Pages, 124KB]
2. 2010-2011 [25 Pages, 243KB]
3. 10/1/2008 – 03/19/2010 [143 Pages, 17MB]

MDR Case Logs

1. 10/07/2008 – 06/10/2010 [14 Pages, 1.5MB]

National Credit Union Administration(NCUA)

1.  APPEAL Log – 2009-10/2016 [3 Pages, 0.2MB]

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)

1.  FY 2013 [3 Pages, 0.2MB]
2.  2009 [7 Pages, 0.2MB]
3. 2006-2008 [7 Pages, 0.2MB]

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)

FOIA Case Logs

1.  2016 [15 Pages, 4.5MB]

Mandatory Declassification Review (MDR) Logs

1.  All Dates through November 2016 – MDR Log [20 Pages, 1.1MB]

National Guard Bureau

FOIA Case Logs

1.  2016 [8 Pages, 2.5MB]

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

FOIA Case Logs

1.  2005-2016 [1,124 Pages, 29.7MB]

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

1. 2013 [6 Pages, 1.4MB]
2. 2012 [6 Pages, 1.4MB]
3. 2011 [14 Pages, 1.9MB]
4. 2010 [12 Pages, 2.5MB]
5.  2009 [4 Pages, 0.2MB]

National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

1.  2013 [27 Pages, 0.2MB]

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

1. 2010-2011 [21 Pages, 1.2MB]
2. 2009 [25 Pages, 0.2MB]
3. 2008 [23 Pages, 8.11MB]
4. 2006 and 2007 Weekly Reports [144 Pages, 18.26mb]

National Park Service (NPS)

FOIA Case Logs

1. 2014-2016 [195 Pages, 1.5MB]
2. 2009-2013 [34 Pages, 6.38MB]
3.  2008 [34 Pages, 6MB]

National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)

FOIA Case Logs

1. 2018 [4 Pages, 8MB]
2. 2016 [13 Pages, 2.1MB]
3. 2013 [3 Pages, 1.55MB]
4.  2010-2011 [13 Pages, 1.2MB]
5.  2009 [28 Pages, 2.5MB]
6. 5 Oldest FOIA Requests, as of June 2009 [130 Pages, 2.97MB]

FOIA Appeal Logs

1. 2018 [1 Page, 0.2MB]
2. 2014-2015 [2 Pages, 1MB]

Mandatory Declassification Review Logs

1. 2018 [1 Page, 1.0MB] – Requires zooming! Yes, that is how small they sent it to me.
2. 2013-2015 [3 Pages, 1.0MB] – Requires zooming! Yes, that is how small they sent it to me.
3. 2000-2012 [7 Pages, 8.2MB]

FOIA Internal Status Reports

1. 2015-2016 [115 Pages, 6.9MB]

National Security Agency (NSA)

FOIA Case Logs

1.  CY 2018 [170 Pages, 74.8MB]
2.  CY 2016 [100 Pages, 17.2MB]
3.  CY 2014 [232 Pages, 8.9MB]
4.  CY 2013 [315 Pages, 8.1MB]
5.  CY 2012 [60 Pages, 8.5MB]
6.  CY 2009 [70 Pages, 40MB]
7. January 1 – January 30, 1998 [3 Pages, 500k]

FOIA Appeal Logs

1.  CY 2014-2015 [60 Pages, 6.9MB]

Oldest FOIA Requests

1.  Filed for 5 Oldest FOIA Requests 27 August 2009 [495 Pages, 67.6MB] – This request took nearly 8 years to get a response and has requests going back to 1994 as still being processed!

Mandatory Declassification Review (MDR) Logs

1.  CY 2013-2015 [32 Pages, 4.2MB]

National Telecommunications & Information Administration

1.  2010-2011 [40 Pages, 6.5MB]

Naval Safety Center

FOIA Case Logs

1. 2019-2020 [92 Pages, 2.86MB] (Combined FOIA and Appeal Logs)

FOIA Appeal Logs

1. 2019-2020 [92 Pages, 2.86MB] (Combined FOIA and Appeal Logs)

Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA)

FOIA Case Logs

1. 2013 [38 Pages, 3MB]
2. 2012 [21 Pages, 2.86MB]
3. 2010-2011 [42 Pages, 5.2MB]
4. 2009 [20 Pages, 5.59MB]

New York State Office of the Attorney General (NYSO/AG)

1. 2015-2016 [284 Pages, 63.9MB]

Northern Command (NORTHCOM)

1.  FY 2016 [18 Pages, 12.8MB]
2. FY 2013 [8 Pages, 0.3MB]
3.  FY2012 [8 Pages, 1.9MB]
4.  FY2010-2011 [9 Pages, 0.5MB]

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

1. 02/2016-12/2016 [120 Pages, 3.4MB]
2. 2012 [26 Pages, 5.67MB]
3. 2009 [16 Pages, 0.2MB]
4. FY 2006 [53 Pages, 4.71MB]

Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI)

FOIA Case Logs

1. 2018 [42 Pages, 11MB]
2. 2013 [27 Pages, 1.51MB]
3.  2012 [27 Pages, 9.45MB]
4. 2010-2011 [47 Pages, 2.21MB]
5. 2008 [21 Pages, 439k]

FOIA Appeal Logs

1. 2018 [42 Pages, 11MB]
2. 2014-2015 –  [7 Pages, 1.5MB]
3. 2000-2013 [13 Pages, 1.9MB]

Mandatory Declassification Review (MDR) Logs

1. 01/01/2021 – 10/15/2021 [4 Pages, 0.6MB]
2. 2018 [42 Pages, 11MB]

Office of Government Ethics (OGE)

1. 2010-2015 – FOIA Logs and Appeal Logs [67 Pages, 3.3MB]
2. 2013 [16 Pages, 2.69MB]
3. 2012 [15 Pages, 0.9MB]
4. 2010-2011 [18 Pages, 1.7MB]
5. 2009 [10 Pages, 1.7MB]
6.  FY 2006 – 2008 [14 Pages, 2.38MB]

Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI)

1.  2010-2012 [12 Pages, 1.04MB]

Office of Nuclear and National Security Information (ONNSI)

1. Weekly Report from January – October 2001 [245 Pages, 22.17MB]

Office of Special Counsel (OSC)

1. FY2016 [6 Pages, 0.8MB]
2. Appeal Log, FY2006-FY2016 [1 Page, 0.9MB]
3.  FOIA Backlog Reduction Goals, 2016-2017 [4 Pages, 1.4MB]
4. FOIA Case Logs, FY2008-2015 [43 Pages, 1.6MB]

Office of the Secretary of Defense and Joint Staff (OSD/JS)

FOIA Case Logs

1. 2017 [146 Pages, 1.9MB]
2. 2016 [275 Pages, 1.7MB]
3. 2014-2015 [332 Pages, 2.7MB]
4. 2009 – 2013 [629 Pages, 3.34MB]
5.  2000 – 2008 [1,146 Pages, 5.5MB]

FOIA Internal Status Reports

1. 2015-2016 [475 Pages, 49.6MB] – PDF Has bookmarks of the three attachments that were received for this FOIA. I combined them for ease of downloading/reading.

Mandatory Declassification Review (MDR) Logs

1.  CY 2016-2017 [163 Pages, 4MB]
2.  CY 2013-2015 [624 Pages, 5.1MB]

Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR)

FOIA Appeal Logs

1. 2011-2016 [2 Pages, 2.7MB]

Offutt Air Force Base (SAC HQ)

1. 2013 [5 Pages, 2.21MB]
2.  2009 [52 Pages, 0.3MB]

Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC)

1. 2014-2015 [25 Pages, 0.6MB]
2. 2013 [8 Pages, 0.3MB]
3.  2012 [45 Pages, 0.5MB]
4. 2010 – 2011 [45 Pages, 0.5MB]
5. 2008-2009 [19 Pages, 0.3MB]

Pacific Command (PACOM)

1. MDR Log, a/o November 2016 [3 Pages, 0.7MB]
2. 2013 [5 Pages, 0.7MB]
3. 2012 [8 Pages, 6.94MB]

Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC)

FOIA Case Logs

1. 2008-2016 [433 Pages, 142.5MB]

FOIA Appeal Logs

1. 2013-2016 [433 Pages, 142.5MB] – This is the same file above, but the last page holds the “Appeals” log.

Peterson Air Force Base

1. 2013 [6 Pages, 0.3mb]

Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB)

1. 2010-2016 [3 Pages, 0.9MB]

RAF Lakenheath

1. January 1, 2007 – November 26, 2008 [3 Pages, 261k]

Redstone Aresenal, Alabama (Army)

1. 2013 [2 Pages, 2.7MB]
2.  2010-2011 [29 Pages, 2.7MB]
3. 2008 [8 Pages, 400k]

Selective Service Systems (SSS)

1.  2008-2012 [11 Pages, 0.3MB]

Social Security Administration (SSA)

FOIA Case Logs

1. 2016 [1,018 Pages, 5.3MB]
2. 2009-2011 [2,416 Pages, 3.5MB]

Special Operations Command (SOCOM)

1.  2014 [16 Pages, 1.2MB]
2.  2013 [5 Pages, 0.6MB]
3.  2012 – Open Cases [84 Pages, 0.3MB]
4.  2012 – Closed Cases [128 Pages, 0.3MB]

Security Exchange Commission (SEC)

FOIA Case Logs

1.  2013 [CSV File, 1.75MB]
2. 2012 [151 Pages, 0.7MB]
3.  2011 [CSV File, 1.61MB]
4.  2010 [CSV File, 1.68MB]
5. 2009 [198 Pages, 2.7mb]

FOIA Appeal Logs

1. FY 2009-2015 [48 Pages, 1.7MB]

Small Business Administration (SBA)

1.  2016 [26 Pages, 1.2MB]

Transportation Command (TRANSCOM)

1. 2016 [16 Pages, 0.5MB]
2. 2013 [8 Pages, 0.5MB]
3. 2012 [8 Pages, 6.94MB]

Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

1. 3 Oldest Open Requests with Processing Notes, a/o July 2016 [58 Pages, 4.2MB]

United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

FOIA Case Logs

1. FY 2012 – 1Q of 2016 [166 Pages, 1.2MB]

MDR Case Logs

1. 2010-2016 [5 Pages, 0.6MB]

United States Census Bureau

1. 10/1/2011 – 08/01/2012 [17 Pages, 3.5MB]
2. 2010-2011 [57 Pages, 6.8MB]

United States Patent and Trade Office (USPTO)

1. 1/1/2011 – 08/01/2012 [27 Pages, 5MB]
2. 2010-2011 [33 Pages, 4.7MB]

United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS)

FOIA Case Logs

1. 2010-2016 [85 Pages, 24.1MB]

United States Postal Service (USPS)

FOIA Case Logs

1. 2010-2016 [1,120 Pages, 112MB]

FOIA Appeal Logs

1. 2010-2016 [85 Pages, 9.9MB]

United States Postal Service / Inspector General (USPS/IG)

FOIA Case Logs

1. 2013-2015 [79 Pages, 15.3MB]
2.  2013 [.XLSX file, 43kb]
3.  2012 [14 Pages, 5.24MB]
4. 2010-2011 [13 Pages, 1.1MB]
5. 2009 [25 Pages, 6.5MB]

United States Secret Service (USSS)

FOIA Case Logs

1.  2018 [8 Pages, 0.6MB]
2.  2000-2015 [475 Pages, 218.8MB] – Note: LARGE File – recommended you right click and press “Save As…” to save it to your hard drive.

United States Strategic Command (STRATCOM)

FOIA Case Logs

1.  FY2013-2014 [8 Pages, 1.1MB]
2. 2009 [19 Pages, 4.7MB]
3. 2006-2008 [19 Pages, 4.7MB]

Vandenberg Air Force Base

1. FY 2007 [7 Pages, 633k]

Veterans Affairs / Office of the Inspector General (VA/OIG)

FOIA Case Logs

1. 2016 [15 Pages, 5.2MB]

The post FOIA & MDR Case Logs first appeared on The Black Vault.

An FBI High Visibility Memorandum is an internal document used by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to communicate information about cases or matters that are considered to be of high public, media, or governmental interest. These memoranda are used to inform senior FBI officials and other relevant parties about the status, developments, or significant aspects of such cases. The purpose of a High Visibility Memorandum is to ensure that key decision-makers are kept informed and that any necessary coordination or public relations efforts can be undertaken effectively.

The content of a High Visibility Memorandum typically includes:

1. Case Identification: The memorandum will provide details about the case, including the case number, the subject(s) involved, and the location of the investigation.
2. Background Information: A brief overview of the case, including its origins, the nature of the allegations or incidents, and any relevant historical context.
3. Current Status: An update on the current status of the investigation or matter, including any recent developments, findings, or actions taken by the FBI or other involved agencies.
4. Significance: An explanation of why the case is considered to be of high visibility, including potential public, media, or governmental interest, and any potential implications or consequences.
5. Next Steps: A summary of planned or anticipated actions, including investigative steps, legal proceedings, or public relations efforts.
6. Points of Contact: Information about key personnel involved in the case, including lead investigators, supervisors, and public affairs officers.
7. Other Relevant Information: Any additional information that may be pertinent to understanding the case or its significance, such as related cases, potential security concerns, or coordination with other agencies.

High Visibility Memoranda are typically marked with appropriate handling instructions to ensure that sensitive information is protected and disseminated appropriately. They are an important tool for managing the FBI’s response to significant cases and ensuring that the agency’s leadership is informed and prepared to address potential public or governmental scrutiny.

Below, you will find the memorandums released.

Document Archive

Note: There may be repeat documents within the releases below. Some cases were filed by other requesters, and archived here for preservation at The Black Vault. All releases are archived for research purposes, with no omissions.

FBI High Visibility Memoranda (circa 1979 – 1986) [135 Pages, 44MB] – (Note: These records were provided by the family of anthologist and transparency activist Russ Kick, from his papers, facilitated by the generous assistance of Dr. Susan Maret.)

FBI High Visibility Memoranda (circa September 1983 – April 1986) [129 Pages, 35MB]

FBI High Visibility Memoranda (circa 2003 – 2017) [508 Pages, 75MB] – Request filed by The Black Vault.

The post FBI High Visibility Memoranda first appeared on The Black Vault.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has recently released a significantly redacted version of its latest ‘Vexsome Filer’ list, in response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request filed by The Black Vault on August 7, 2023, under FBI FOIA case number 1600755-000. Initially, the request was met with a response stating no records existed. This prompted an appeal, case A-2023-01949, wherein the Department of Justice (DOJ) remanded the request, leading to the release of this latest, albeit heavily redacted, document.

The ‘Vexsome Filer’ list, a term coined by the FBI, refers to individuals or organizations frequently requesting information, potentially seen as burdensome or repetitive by the agency. Historically, these lists have included numerous names and organizations, providing insights into who is actively seeking information from the FBI. However, the current release stands out due to its extensive redactions and notably shorter length compared to past disclosures.

Intriguingly, the only entity clearly identified in this new release is the CATO Institute. The CATO Institute is a public policy research organization, or think tank, based in Washington, D.C. Known for its libertarian philosophy, it focuses on advocating policies that advance individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace. The reasons for its explicit mention, while other names remain undisclosed, remain unclear.

The Black Vault plans to file a second appeal. A comparative analysis of past releases of the ‘Vexsome Filer’ list will be a focal point, aiming to understand the rationale behind the redactions and the selective disclosure of the CATO Institute.

The result of that appeal will be posted, when available.

###

Document Archive

FBI Releases Redacted ‘Vexsome Filer’ List [5 Pages, 1.55MB]

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The post FBI Issues Redacted ‘Vexsome Filer’ List, Marking Departure from Past Transparency Practices first appeared on The Black Vault.

Document Archive

NRO Information Review and Release Group (IRRG) Logs (Monday Weekly Emails) for 2022 [42 Pages, 8.4MB]

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The post NRO Information Review and Release Group (IRRG) Logs (Monday Weekly Emails) first appeared on The Black Vault.

The released documents include one that could be fully disclosed, while seven others were partially redacted based on various FOIA exemptions. These exemptions, specifically (b)(3), (b)(5), and (b)(6), pertain to information exempt from disclosure by statute, notably under the Central Intelligence Agency Act of 1949 and the National Security Act of 1947.

The case initially stemmed from Kinney’s request for information on James Harold Nichols, a former Office of Strategic Services (OSS) employee during World War II. Nichols’s personnel file was not among the 23,000 OSS personnel records released by the National Archives and Record Administration, leading Kinney to believe that many employment and personnel records of former OSS employees were still held by the CIA. The CIA, in response to Kinney’s request, declared, “We maintain a copy of the roster of OSS personnel. We checked the listing for Mr. Nichols’ name, and it did not appear on the roster”​​.

The CIA adopted a “neither confirm nor deny” stance regarding the existence or nonexistence of certain requested records. This approach, referred to as the Glomar response, is commonly used in cases where acknowledging the existence of records might reveal classified information. “The Agency refuses to confirm or deny maintaining records that would show a classified association with the CIA,” as per the documents​​.

This release of documents, while offering some transparency, underscores the complexities involved in accessing historical records tied to intelligence and national security.

Document Archive

CIA Releases Documents in Leslie G. Kinney v. CIA Freedom of Information Act Case [31 Pages, 6MB]

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The post CIA Releases Documents in Leslie G. Kinney v. CIA Freedom of Information Act Case first appeared on The Black Vault.

In the ongoing fight for transparency regarding Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP), The Black Vault just encountered additional hurdles that make the effort even more difficult to achieve. A series of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) appeals were filed to challenge the Department of Defense’s (DoD) use of exemption (b)(7) blocking access to various UAP and UFO related documents within the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO). This specific exemption pertains to records or information compiled for law enforcement purposes, which could interfere with enforcement proceedings.

The Black Vault argued that AARO, along with other past names of similar efforts like the AOIMSG and UAPTF, were not law enforcement agencies. Furthermore, there’s no acknowledged law enforcement investigation that requires the concealment of the requested information.

Last week, the DoD responded to six of these appeals, upholding the (b)(7)(A) and (b)(7)(E) exemptions. These exemptions concern potential interference with enforcement proceedings and the disclosure of techniques and procedures for law enforcement investigations or prosecutions, respectively, but again the DoD fails to present what “law enforcement” proceeding it would interfere with.

In an OpEd published on The Hill in June 2023 by Marik von Rennenkampff, it was proposed that these denials are “…circumstantial evidence that a law enforcement entity, such as the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General [DoD/IG], is engaged in a broad, and possibly criminal, investigation of the U.S. government’s involvement with UFOs.” Though, no evidence supports this.

The DoD/IG’s “evaluation” is now closed as of August 15, 2023, thus nullifying the (b)(7) exemption use, yet, the appellate authority claims it still applies in their September 29th, 2023, decisions. In addition to that, the Intelligence Community Inspector General (IC IG) stated in a September 15, 2023, letter to multiple Congressman and Congresswomen, “…IC IG notes that it has not conducted any audit, inspection, evaluation, or review of alleged UAP programs.” This statement, unless untrue or a daring but clever use of word choices hiding their “investigation”, rules out the IC IG being the root of a “law enforcement” exemption use. So, it remains a mystery on exactly why the exemption is being cited.

Despite multiple attempts over several months to obtain a comment from a DoD spokesperson regarding the use of the “law enforcement” related exemptions, no response has been received at the time of writing this article. The silence from the DoD adds to the growing aura of secrecy surrounding the UAP phenomena and the government’s handling of related information.

But in a surprising turn, during the appellate review, the DoD introduced even more exemptions not cited in the original FOIA denial.

50 U.S.C. § 3024(i)(1) is a provision in the United States Code that mandates the protection of intelligence sources and methods from unauthorized disclosure. This exemption serves to withhold sensitive information concerning national intelligence activities, methods, or the identities of individuals involved, from being released to the public, ensuring the continued efficacy and security of intelligence operations.

The introduction of new exemptions fortifies the existing barrier between the public and the information on UAP, potentially making any future litigation an even more challenging endeavor. These additional layers of exemption signify a strong intent to keep UAP records shielded from the public eye, and present an even bigger challenge to overcome should The Black Vault decide to proceed to court for the release of this information.

The American public’s significant interest in UAPs and the activities of AARO is mirrored by extensive mainstream media coverage. Under FOIA, balancing this public interest against governmental confidentiality is crucial, yet the scales seem to be heavily tipped towards secrecy in this ongoing saga. It should also be noted, that no current or proposed Congressional legislation will fully overwrite these exemptions. Although proposed amendments, like the “Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) Disclosure Act of 2023”, may aim to open up UAP related records to the public, it does not overwrite any ability by the U.S. government to continue to redact and exempt this information from public disclosure. Documents like the UAP Security Classification Guide (SCG) will continue to allow the full exemption of more modern UAP related material, should the DoD desire to do so. FOIA exemptions, and numerous other statutes, could also still fully apply to older UAP material.

Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, Christopher Mellon, also has cited the UAP SCG as a roadblock that Congressional language will not circumvent:

Although this is very encouraging, until & unless the overly restrictive UAP security classification guide is revised, there will be little public benefit as virtually all recent data, including UAP videos, will be classified. Congress should press ahead for this guidance to be… https://t.co/JLQdPQoMka

— Christopher K. Mellon (@ChrisKMellon) July 14, 2023

This battle for transparency highlights a broader narrative of governmental secrecy. Each denial and every newly introduced exemption underscores the substantial hurdles faced in shedding light on the unknown, particularly concerning phenomena that captivate public interest and imagination.

###

The post DoD Amplifies UFO Secrecy Yet Again: Additional Exemptions Reinforce “Law Enforcement” Claim first appeared on The Black Vault.

As of now, the origins of this release remain a mystery. There are two main possibilities: either CBP took the initiative to proactively disclose these materials to the public, or they were released as a result of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. The Black Vault currently has multiple FOIA cases with CBP. Some of these requests were transferred to other agencies, while others remain open with CBP.

To get to the bottom of this, The Black Vault reached out to CBP for clarification. But after navigating an intricate phone menu system, no representatives were available to provide a comment or an explanation about the nature of the release.

While the actual context and background of the released documents and videos remain unclear, they offer a glimpse at some new cases, though much of the resolution seems to be on the low side. The Black Vault will also be seeking higher resolution versions of the videos, along with higher resolution scans of the documents.

All of the material is now available below.

.Zip Archive

Download ALL documents (.pdf) and Video Files Linked Below In One File [753MB]

Document Archive

The following PDF is exactly how the CBP released the documents. They remain in the order they were released, and seem to be a stack of records reviewed, all thrown into one PDF with no particular order.

All CBP UAP Documents [390 Pages, 44MB]

Video Archive

Click on video to download file name to download. That link is followed by a streamable YouTube version for convenience:

• Video pertaining to Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon 1.mp4 [28MB]

• Video pertaining to Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon 2.1 .mp4 [110MB]

• Video pertaining to Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon 2.2.mp4 [112MB]

• Video pertaining to Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon 3.mp4 [117MB]

• Video pertaining to Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon 4.mp4 [116MB]

• Video pertaining to Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon 5.wmv [3MB]

• Video pertaining to Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon 6.wmv [3.5MB]

• Video pertaining to Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon 7.mp4 [94MB]

• Video pertaining to Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon 8.wmv [4.5MB]

• Video pertaining to Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon 9.avi [50MB]

• Video pertaining to Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon 10.avi [8.6MB]

• Video pertaining to Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon 10.mp4 [103MB] (Note: #10 was doubled on the CBP release with numbering only – videos are different. On the CBP release, this was labeled “3.2” but the file within the zip was labeled “10”)

The post UAP Documents and Videos Surface from U.S. Customs and Border Protection first appeared on The Black Vault.

The below documents were discovered after searching emails for the following keywords: “The Black Vault”, “John Greenewald” etc. The reasoning at that was fairly simple, but I did not expect the discovery that was made.

I received quite a few documents responsive to my request, however, the below stuck out. Internally, the IRS will file Sensitive Case Reports (SCRs) when requests come in from certain individuals or organizations that are like to attract media or Congressional attention, or if they consider them a unique of “novel” issue.

I was amazed to find myself at the top of the short list (albeit, it is alphabetical).

Also in the batch of records, were the SCR guidelines on how those requests are handled, and why certain people or organizations deserve to be on the list.

First, the official IRS list of requesters and organizations that are on the list:

Sensitive Case Reports Archive

 IRS Sensitive Case Reports, October 1, 2016 – March 10, 2017 [98 Pages, 1.8MB]

 IRS Sensitive Case FOIA Requests, October 1, 2016 – March 10, 2017 [432 Pages, 132.3MB]

 IRS Sensitive Case Reports, January 1, 2020 – circa April 2022 [969 Pages, 260MB]

Guidelines for PGLD Sensitive Case Reports (January, 2016)

The following is taken directly from the  Guidelines for PGLD Sensitive Case Reports (January, 2016):

1. Process for reporting

The case worker should prepare a Sensitive Case Report (SCR) within 5 days of case assignment. Disclosure Managers (DM) can also make an SCR determination. Input “SCR” in the Subject Line within the case in AFOIA as soon as possible, even if in advance of finalization of the SCR. Follow the approval path established by your Area to elevate the SCR to Area leadership: caseworker to DM; DM to Area Technical Advisor (TA); TA to both Area Deputies. Area leadership will approve/reject the SCR and ensure reconciliation with the Bi-Weekly SCR prepared for Directors PGLD and GLDS.

2. Format for reporting

Use the most recent PGLD Sensitive Case Report form.

Complete the SCR as stated below:

• Requester Name: Enter the name of the individual making the request and their association. Example: J. Smith, Reporter USA Today, or J. Smith IRS Territory Mgr. If the requester does not have an association, and then enter “(Self)”.
• Case Number: Enter AFOIA case number.
• Sensitive Case Criteria: Check applicable box. Additional information will be included in the Case Summary. See Criteria for initiating an SCR below.
• Disclosure Received Date: Enter the date the request was received in Disclosure. Where there is a substantial difference between this date and the date when the report is completed, please provide an explanation for the delay in the Case Summary section of the report.
• Due Date: Enter the original due date
• Case Summary: Enter a brief description of the issue(s) in the case (do not include an entire history sheet of the case). Do not use abbreviations and consider the audience. Do not include names unless the specific names are part of what makes the request sensitive. Be succinct.
• Action Plan: Enter a brief explanation of the recent activity and a plan of action. (Do not include an entire history sheet of the case.)
• Submitted By: Enter caseworker Name
• Date: Enter date SCR completed

Remember, a SCR should be a summary of a case and case activity. The report should be no longer than 1(one) page. Upload the completed SCR to the Research Folder in AFOIA.

3. Criteria for initiating an SCR

Employees should exercise good judgment in determining whether a SCR should be prepared. SCRs are used to notify top management of FOIA requests and actions being taken that are sensitive in nature prior to hearing about them externally. The report template breaks the criteria down to two categories as follows:

a) Likely to attract media or Congressional attention

Does the case involve a taxpayer with a recognizable name, such as a politician, an entertainer, or a professional athlete and the actions on the case may be publicized or result in a contact to the PGLD Director or higher? Could IRS actions in the case attract attention because of the nature of the taxpayer’s business? Could the taxpayer’s actions, such as contacting a Member of Congress draw attention to the case?

Is the request for information related to, or from, any member or committee of Congress? Is the request from a major news media outlet? Is the request from or concerning persons, entities, issues or programs that might generate media attention?

b) Unique or novel issue

Is the case novel or unusual in some way? Does the case fall outside of the other criteria, but is worth elevating for some reason? A case under these criteria should be accompanied by a brief explanation of why it is unique. Provide this explanation in the Case Summary section of the SCR report.
Is the request for information that may have national political implications, usually from organizations known to have national political influence or represent major political parties? Is the request for information about an IRS or Chief Counsel executive, other than the PIL or Oath of Office? For example: a request for copies of the Commissioner’s Travel Vouchers. Is the request from NTEU (or other national union, such as AFGE) for information on a national policy or program?

SCR Template

 25 – PGLD SCR Template (Jan 2016)

Origin

Along with other document, I was able to get the email chain regarding the creation of the SCR list.  You will find the more important parts of the exchanges below:

The attachment included on this email was the above mentioned list.

The post Sensitive Case Reports (SCRs) Regarding FOIA Requests at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) first appeared on The Black Vault.

Although the information disclosed in the document is extremely minimal, it paves the way for further FOIA requests by The Black Vault and provides a glimpse into the work done by AARO and its organizational structure. The list does not include crucial details such as dates, times, or locations of the events, nor does it indicate whether the cases remain unidentified.

The number of cases listed in the index reflects close to the number revealed in the 2022 UAP report, indicating that from the 30 August 2022 data cut-off point as indicated in the report, to the 6 December 2022 data cut-off point of the list released under the FOIA, AARO logged one additional case worthy of cataloguing:

AARO, the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, was established to investigate, analyze, and assess UAP (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) incidents and reports. The office’s primary goal is to determine any potential threats these phenomena may pose to national security, as well as to identify their origin and nature. Despite the limited information released in the document, it highlights the fact that the Pentagon is actively addressing the UFO / UAP issue.

The Black Vault will utilize the case serial numbers to file new FOIA requests in pursuit of additional details regarding specific cases. While the lack of information may be disheartening, the release of the document is a small, but positive step toward greater transparency and understanding of UAP encounters and how investigations of those are handled.

As new information is uncovered and released, the public’s understanding of these mysterious phenomena will hopefully continue to grow. In the meantime, researchers and enthusiasts are left to speculate about the full contents of the 511 cases listed as everyone awaits further disclosure.

###

Newly Released Document Reveals Index of UFO Cases at the Pentagon’s AARO [3 Pages, 1.5MB]

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The post Newly Released Document Reveals Index of UFO Cases at the Pentagon’s AARO first appeared on The Black Vault.

It did not.

The result of this case may resonate throughout future “disclosures” (in the FOIA sense) and decisions by military branches and government agencies, all citing the UAP Security Classification Guide.

This video breaks down the story, what happened, and what it may mean.

The post Navy JAG Denies Major FOIA Appeal Further Solidifying UFO/UAP Secrecy first appeared on The Black Vault.

This journey began back on July 3, 2020, when The Black Vault filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (Case F-2020-00092) request for all records that pertain to Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) from the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). That case would take nearly two years to process, wherein the final decision denied access to only one document that was considered responsive to that request.

Now, after a FOIA appeal was granted by the agency, that decision has been reversed. Only problem is, they still want to withhold nearly 100% of the information they have released, as the document itself shows very little.

It appears to be, based on the layout, a PowerPoint presentation printout. The first page which appears to be a generic NRO title slide, holds the only information that can be useful. (S//NF) begins the header, which denotes that the document/presentation is classified at the SECRET level, while NF, or NORFORN, stipulates the record is not for release to foreign nationals.

The header continues to include UAP, however, the remainder of that line is redacted citing FOIA exemption (b)(1), showing information properly classified, along with (b)(3), showing the information is withheld by statute.

The information that becomes valuable to a point, is the date revealed on the same slide. However, it is unknown if this is the date of the document, or the the date of an event. What also adds to that confusion is the “-” character that precedes it, which may have another date redacted printed just before it. This may indicate a date range, thus showing instead of the date of document, it may show a range of dates that an event, or series of events, occurred.

The two pages/slides that followed the title were entirely redacted, though represent the approximate dimensions of a PowerPoint slide presentation. Whether they are photos or simply text will remain a mystery, at least for now.

The Black Vault has at the writing of this article, five other UAP related requests being processed at the NRO. It is unclear what, if anything, will be released on those cases, but they will be published when available.

It should also be noted that the case referenced above was filed in July of 2020, likely indicating that the search of documents stopped at July of 2020. A new request was filed when this document was released to see what, if anything, was created after that date. The results from that case will also be published on The Black Vault, when available.

The document as released via appeal is available below.

###

Document Archive

NRO Releases UAP Report; Shows Immense Secrecy Behind Issue [6 Pages, 1.1MB]

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The post NRO Releases UAP Report And It Shows, Yet Again, Immense Secrecy Surrounding UAP Issue first appeared on The Black Vault.

In this short episode, I breakdown a few documents likely related, describing UFO “material” years after the U.S. government / military’s investigation into UFOs known as Project Blue Book.

The documents show that within the walls of the CIA, despite the U.S. government’s public stance, officials and personnel continued to watch UFO developments. They even reference “material” and something “hand carried” to the office of one of the CIA scientists. What was it? A document? A post it note? Piece of wreckage?

Here’s a breakdown, along with what happened when The Black Vault tried to get both documents further declassified.

The Document

The post The CIA, UFOs and “Material” first appeared on The Black Vault.

After a nearly two and a half year effort, The Black Vault was denied under FOIA to get videos declassified depicting Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) citing a harm to national security, if released.

Since December of 2017, two videos that surfaced of alleged Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) sightings captivated the world. Months later, a third was released that only increased public interest into the topic, but also strengthened their voice for transparency about the mysterious phenomena.

Even though the military said they were not cleared for public dissemination and considered leaked, the Navy later would officially release copies of the same in April of 2020 to satisfy public curiosity and calls for transparency. But, how many other videos were there?

At that moment, The Black Vault aimed to find out just that.

So, in April of 2020, The Black Vault began a pursuit to have the U.S. Navy release ALL of their videos that held a UAP designation. And after nearly two and a half years, the untold number of videos with that UAP designation have been fully denied due to national security concerns.

The Pursuit

This story begins on April 28, 2020, when The Black Vault filed FOIA case DON-NAVY-2020-007226 (later renumbered in November of 2020 after a bogus rejection and given new case number DON-NAVY-2021-001457) to the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), the same command that officially released the three UAP videos one day prior.

The request was simple. It asked for all videos that were designated “Unidentified Aerial Phenomena”, just like the FLIR1, Gimbal and GoFast videos that they had previously released and labeled as “UAP”. The FOIA case  filed sought ALL of them.

It seemed plausible if there were three, there were more at NAVAIR. However, in March of 2022, NAVAIR would deny that request stating that they found no additional videos. It seemed strange they had three, and only those three, but other requests had already been filed by The Black Vault to seek out more places UAP videos might be hiding.

On February 2, 2021, The Black Vault had also filed FOIA request DON-NAVY-2021-001456. Given that it was recognized by Congress, and stated in the media numerous times, this specific case was filed with the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) which was said to be the home for the UAP Task Force (UAPTF). Yet, it would take 17 months for ONI to inform The Black Vault that the videos, if any designation “UAP” should exist, would be housed at the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (N2/N6), and a new case needed to be filed there. It appeared that the 17 month wait endured, was a complete waste of time.

A new case was filed DON-NAVY-2022-010360 to N2/N6, and only two months after that was filed on July 11, 2022, The Black Vault received the official denial.

“The UAP Task Force has responded back to DNS-36 and have stated that the requested videos contain sensitive information pertaining to Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) and are classified and are exempt from disclosure in their entirety under exemption 5 U.S.C. § 552 (b)(1) in accordance with Executive Order 13526 and the UAP Security Classification Guide,” Gary Cason, Deputy Director, DON FOIA/PA Program Office, said in the response letter. “The release of this information will harm national security as it may provide adversaries valuable information regarding Department of Defense/Navy operations, vulnerabilities, and/or capabilities. No portions of the videos can be segregated for release.”

Potentially seeing a justification of an appeal, the U.S. Navy uncharacteristically gave additional details for their decision, which cited the previous release of three UAP videos.

“While three UAP videos were released in the past, the facts specific to those three videos are unique in that those videos were initially released via unofficial channels before official release,” Cason stated in the letter. “Those events were discussed extensively in the public domain; in fact, major news outlets conducted specials on these events. Given the amount of information in the public domain regarding these encounters, it was possible to release the files without further damage to national security.”

The Black Vault has filed an appeal seeking the release of the videos denied.

###

The Denial Letter

DON-NAVY-2022-010360

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The post U.S. Navy Says ALL UAP/UFO Videos Are Classified And Exempt From Release first appeared on The Black Vault.

Document Archive

Preliminary Study of Capsule Recovery for the First Series of Project Mercury Orbital Flights – July 1, 1959 [241 Pages, 30MB]

The post Preliminary Study of Capsule Recovery for the First Series of Project Mercury Orbital Flights – July 1, 1959 first appeared on The Black Vault.

Document Archive

Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) FOIA Backlog Reduction Documents, Released June 2021 [77 Pages, 2.3MB]

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The post Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) FOIA Backlog Reduction Documents, Released June 2021 first appeared on The Black Vault.

Document Archive

Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) FOIA Reduction Improvement Plan, July 2017 [4 Pages, 0.5MB]

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The post Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) FOIA Reduction Improvement Plan, July 2017 first appeared on The Black Vault.

Below are FOIA status reports, published internally, for the years 2015-2016.

Document Archive

Defense Intelligence Agency FOIA Status Reports, 2014-2015 [293 Pages, 18MB]

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The post Defense Intelligence Agency FOIA Status Reports, 2014-2015 first appeared on The Black Vault.

It is a “briefing card” utilized by Navy’s Chief of Information and the Office of Information (CHINFO) for assistance on responding to UAP related requests.

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Navy CHINFO Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs) Briefing Card, 24 July 2020 [3 Pages, 0.5MB]

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The post Navy CHINFO Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs) Briefing Card, 24 July 2020 first appeared on The Black Vault.

The FOIA request was originally filed by Alex Garcia, a Los Angeles based self described “Disclosure Activist and Advocate” who also serves as the Media Manager for UAPx. In the release sent to him by the U.S. Navy, they primarily cited exemption (b)(1), which translates to “national security” related information, for redacting nearly the entire release.

The Navy also cited (b)(5), which also according to the Navy, was due to the fact the document contained “deliberative process privileged material, is predecisional in nature, and contains working versions of documents.”

Garcia is appealing the decision, and will keep The Black Vault informed of further releases, if any.

Although nothing is gleaned about UAP from the document itself, it serves as yet another example of the extreme nature of secrecy that surrounds the UAP issue. As some argue that the world is seeing a new era of transparency coming from the American government, releases like this prove that the discussion has a long way to go before it can truly say it is seeing “transparency.”

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Navy ‘Releases’ 2020 Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon “Information Memo” [19 Pages, 0.6MB]

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The post Navy ‘Releases’ 2020 Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon “Information Memo” first appeared on The Black Vault.