The newly released document provides limited additional information beyond what was already made public in the unclassified report. However, certain sections of the annex contain more detail about activities at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) and its collaboration with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). For instance, the annex acknowledges that WIV researchers conducted coronavirus research in collaboration with PLA scientists, though it emphasizes that the coronaviruses studied were not direct ancestors of SARS-CoV-2.

One notable point of interest in the annex, which mirrors the public report, is the mention of WIV researchers falling ill in the fall of 2019. The annex states that some researchers displayed symptoms that were consistent with, but not diagnostic of, COVID-19. However, there are no indications that these individuals were hospitalized due to the symptoms, and some may have been ill with unrelated conditions. This detail is echoed in the unclassified report, though the annex provides slightly more specificity regarding the health of these researchers.

Most of the newly released material remains heavily redacted. The declassification letter explains that much of the report continues to be classified under sections protecting intelligence activities, foreign relations, and scientific or technological information relevant to national security. These redactions are supported by 50 U.S.C. § 3024(i) of the National Security Act, which is invoked to protect intelligence sources and methods.

The unclassified version of the report, released in June 2023, addressed potential links between the WIV and the origins of COVID-19. It highlighted two competing hypotheses for the pandemic’s origin: natural exposure to an infected animal or a laboratory-related incident. While most U.S. intelligence agencies assess that the virus was likely transmitted to humans through natural exposure, a few agencies, including the Department of Energy and the FBI, favor the hypothesis of a laboratory-related origin. The report also pointed out that no evidence suggests the virus was genetically engineered or deliberately released.

The declassified annex, while providing some additional context, largely aligns with these conclusions. The exemptions and redactions in the document demonstrate the sensitive nature of the intelligence surrounding this issue, particularly concerning the involvement of the PLA and the specific activities undertaken at the WIV.

###

Document Archive

ODNI Releases Partially Declassified Annex on Wuhan Lab and COVID-19 Origins [4 Pages, 1.34MB]

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The post ODNI Releases Partially Declassified Annex on Wuhan Lab and COVID-19 Origins 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.

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.

Published every year since 2014, the ASTR provides the public with statistics and contextual information regarding the scope of the government’s use of FISA authorities, National Security Letters, and other national security authorities. In conjunction with other publicly released material, this report adds insight into the rigorous and multi-layered oversight framework governing the IC that is designed to protect the privacy and civil liberties of persons whose information is acquired pursuant to these national security authorities.

Document Archive

Annual Statistical Transparency Report Regarding the Intelligence Community’s Use of National Security Surveillance Authorities, 2021 [38 Pages, 1.2MB]

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The post Annual Statistical Transparency Report Regarding the Intelligence Community’s Use of National Security Surveillance Authorities for 2021, Published April 2022 first appeared on The Black Vault.

Do you want to see all or part of the classified UAP report sent to Congress last June? As most of you know, so do I!

So, in my ongoing effort to keep you all updated on this process, I can safely say now that I am struggling to get updates from ODNI, and numerous follow ups over the course of MONTHS have gone unanswered.

To remedy this, last night, I filed an appeal with ISCAP in regards to my 32 CFR § 1704 MDR case that aims to get the classified UAP report reviewed for either a partial, or more unlikely, full release.

What this means in plain English is that I have enlisted the help of the Interagency Security Classification Appeals Panel (ISCAP) to intervene on my behalf, should they agree with my appeal. They will then, hopefully, get ODNI to complete the case in a more timely fashion.

The appeal filed is based on the time that has elapsed since filing, along with the issues I am having getting updates or ETAs from ODNI about my case.

This is a boring, legal, struggle to get this done. However, I told you all I would be as transparent as possible.

I will update you all soon when things happen!

###

The post UPDATE: The Struggle To Get The Classified UAP/UFO Report Reviewed For Release first appeared on The Black Vault.

Below, you will find e-mails sent to/from James Clapper, which contain the keyword “Bilderberg.”

Note: What turned up were numerous newsletters from a mailing list. It is likely that it was an unsolicited subscription for James Clapper, and these e-mails came up with the keyword requested.

Document Archive

James Clapper E-Mails Containing Keyword “Bilderberg” [170 Pages, 67MB]

The post James Clapper E-Mails Containing Keyword “Bilderberg” first appeared on The Black Vault.

The Office of the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community (IC IG) Investigations Division investigated the alleged disclosure of classified talking points for the Presidential candidate briefings ahead of the 2016 Presidential elections to NBC News and TIME Magazine by an unknown individual.

Based on our analysis of available information, interviews of individuals tasked with preparation, briefing, and knowledge of the classified talking points, we did not identify any individual who was responsible for the alleged unauthorized disclosures. Therefore, this matter is unsubstantiated.

Document Archive

Alleged Unauthorized Disclosures of Classified Information – Office of the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community – Case: INV-17-0002 – 2017 [29 Pages, 9.5MB]

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The post Alleged Unauthorized Disclosures of Classified Information – Office of the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community – Case: INV-17-0002 – 2017 first appeared on The Black Vault.

Last week, the U.S. government released the highly anticipated report on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena or UAPs. Published by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), it was somewhat of a letdown to UFO fans hoping it would be full of visual imagery and juicy admissions of a cover-up that was ending. However, it did seem to immediately create a call to action by the Department of Defense (DoD) essentially further formalizing and expanding procedures to deal with UAP related events. Now, even more developments have come to light which reveal that within ninety days, the ODNI will update Congress on UAP and how their strategy on data collection along with their coordination with the DoD has progressed.

“ODNI will work with DOD to assist in the development of an overarching UAP collection strategy and R&D technical roadmap, and anticipates updating Congress on these efforts in 90 days,” according to an ODNI spokesperson.

News of this was first published by The New York Times, then later an attributed quote was posted by Danny Silva of The Silva Record blog, who says that quote was from a tip via a mainstream journalist who chose to remain anonymous.

The Black Vault verified the statement with ODNI, and when asked if the “update” referenced would be in a written report form, and if it would be public, ODNI declined to offer additional details.

“There are no details to offer at this time regarding the format of that update or whether there is an associated public release plan,” ODNI told The Black Vault in an e-mail.

The Black Vault will continue to follow the story, and updates will be posted when available.

###

The post ODNI: Update to Congress on UAP Issue Within 90 Days first appeared on The Black Vault.

“The classified report includes some additional information that could not be declassified consistent with the protection of sources and methods,” an ODNI spokesperson told The Black Vault in an e-mail.

When asked for additional details like length of the classified annex/report; asking if there were photos/visuals; asking if there were specific cases mentioned with dates/times/locales — ODNI would not comment beyond the above.

However, they did add, “The unclassified preliminary assessment and classified annex are substantively consistent and the key conclusions are the same in both.”

In other words, according to ODNI, they did not release one conclusion to the public and another within a classified report.

One other detail was also confirmed by The Black Vault.

On page one, the report stipulated it was prepared for the Congressional Intelligence and Armed Services Committee by the UAPTF which is located at the U.S. Navy’s Office of Naval Intelligence and the ODNI National Intelligence Manager for Aviation which is now identified as Maj. Gen. Daniel L. Simpson, who serves within the U.S. Air Force.

Maj. Gen. Simpson has an extensive background. According to his biography posted on the USAF website:

“Maj. Gen. Daniel L. Simpson serves as Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. He is responsible to the Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Air Force for policy formulation, planning, evaluation, oversight and leadership of Air Force ISR capabilities; force development of more than 25,000 ISR Total Force Airmen; and integration of Air Force ISR planning with the national intelligence community. He also serves as the National Intelligence Manager for Aviation and as the Executive Director, National Aviation Intelligence Integration Office under the auspices of the Director of National Intelligence.”

He would also be one of the recipients of the classified version.

Shortly after the UAP report was released, The Black Vault immediately initiated an MDR case under 32 CFR § 1704 (not under 5 U.S.C. § 552 FOIA) to get this classified version reviewed and potentially released, even in part. There is no indication if that will be successful, but the process is in motion, and further details will be posted on The Black Vault when the case plays out.

The post Details Scant About Classified UAP Report – Here’s What ODNI Is Saying first appeared on The Black Vault.

On January 29, 2018, the Office of the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community ( IC IG), Investigations Division ( INV), received a referral from the Office of General Counsel (OGC ), Office of the Director for National Intelligence (ODNI) regarding a possible violation of a criminal conflict of interest provision…

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The investigation archived here was in a FOIA request asking for two “Conflict of Interest” cases. Both are available in the pdf below:

Director of National Intelligence, Inspector General, Investigation 18-0010-IN, “Conflict of Interest” [20 Pages, 6.4MB]

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The post Director of National Intelligence, Inspector General, Investigation 18-0010-IN, “Conflict of Interest” first appeared on The Black Vault.

The following case was investigated by the Office of the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community, and involved the following:

The full report is available below, as received under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Document Archive

Office of the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community Report Case Number 2013-0034, September 10, 2014 [33 Pages, 13MB]

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The post Office of the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community Report Case Number 2013-0034, September 10, 2014 first appeared on The Black Vault.

The Intelligence Authorization Act ( IAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 ‘ requires the President to submit an annual report on security clearance determinations to Congress. The IAA directs this report to include the number of United States Government (USG) employees who held a security clearance at each level as of 1 October of the preceding year, and the number of USG employees who were approved for a security clearance at each level during the preceding FY . Similar data pertaining to USG contractors is also required . Also, for each element of the Intelligence Community ( IC) , in -depth security clearance timeliness determination metrics are required . In response to these IAA requirements, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) , National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC) has prepared this Fiscal Year 2016 Report on Security Clearance Determinations consistent with the security clearance data requirements as outlined by the categories listed below.

Document Archive

2016 Annual Report on Security Clearance Determinations, National Counterintelligence and Security [16 Pages, 6MB]

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The post 2016 Annual Report on Security Clearance Determinations, National Counterintelligence and Security first appeared on The Black Vault.

The President’s Daily Brief (PDB), sometimes referred to as the President’s Daily Briefing or the President’s Daily Bulletin, is a top-secret document produced and given each morning to the President of the United States, and is also distributed to a small number of top-level US officials who are approved by the President, and includes highly classified intelligence analysis, information about CIA covert operations and reports from the most sensitive US sources or those shared by allied intelligence agencies. The PDB is also provided to the President-elect of the United States, between election day and inauguration.

In September of 2017, I filed a Freedom of Information Act request to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) seeking the following:

“…any new or updated guidelines or for any/all memos regarding the preparation and formatting and creation of the President’s Daily Brief.  Please note that I limit this request to records during Calendar Year 2016 and 2017.”

On March 16, 2018, they sent out the responsive documents.

The records show that their instructions are heavily classified and exempted from release. You can see from the records below, that much of the information is redacted, however, there are some instructions and notes that made it through, and it is very telling how the PDB’s are created for President Donald Trump.

For example, use lots of pictures:

And, “one(ish)” has become a proper page count directive:

And finally, use the least amount of acronyms possible:

Declassified Documents

 Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) Memos on Creating Presidential Daily Briefs for Donald Trump [20 Pages, 2.4MB]

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The above release contained quite a bit of “non-responsive” material, which they consider not responsive to my request, so they do not review it for release. I then filed a second FOIA request specifically for the “non-responsive” material previously unreviewed. The below is the result. In large part, they denied it all again, just citing various other FOIA exemptions.

 Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) Memos on Creating Presidential Daily Briefs for Donald Trump [26 Pages, 5MB]

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The post Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) Memos on Creating Presidential Daily Briefs for Donald Trump 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.

I requested this document back on July 26, 2013. To my surprise, it took until March 21, 2019 to be released, in which I waited nearly 6 years.

The document is undated from what I can tell, but was finally declassified and released in my FOIA Case DF-2013-00163 with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI).

Here is a portion of the introduction to this document:

Until relatively recently, the American public knew little about nor understood the role of the U.S. intelligence in formulating U.S. policies both at home and aboard. The “Great Game,” especially during the Cold War, was a secret history that unfolded wholly or in part beyond the view of the general public. Spies and counterintelligence efforts, clandestine operatives. covert operations, proxy armies, massive technical collection efforts, detailed analysis of the intentions and capabilities of potential enemies, the very work of U.S. intelligence agencies. remained hidden from view. Even the basic structure, organization, and missions of the U.S. Intelligence Community were difficult to discern. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War there has been a torrent of new materials on intelligence issues and the Intelligence Community. There are not only new books and articles appearing almost daily. but a flood of newspaper articles, TV shows. movies and videos. There are dictionaries and encyclopedias devoted to intelligence as well as whole journals and college courses. The Department of State’s staid series Foreign Relations of the United States (FRUS) has published two volumes devoted to the organization of U.S. intelligence and a retro volume on the coup in Guatemala in 1954 (Operation PBSUCCESS) and the role of U.S. intelligence.  

Document Archive

Protecting the Nation – U.S. Intelligence – From George Washington to George W. Bush (Date Unknown) [481 Pages, 116MB]

The post Protecting the Nation – U.S. Intelligence – From George Washington to George W. Bush (Date Unknown) first appeared on The Black Vault.

According to the document:

“The Independent Assessment Panel (IAP) was chartered to review and assess the DoD management and organization of National Security in Space and make appropriate recommendations to strengthen the U.S. position. The IAP was supported in its efforts by a study team from the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA). The IAP is grateful for the participation of liaison officers from the Department of Defense, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the National Reconnaissance Office, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (see Appendix C for the study team and liaison participants). This task was performed by IDA for the Director, Space Policy Office of Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategic Capabilities under task entitled
‘Department of Defense Organization and Management for National Security in Space.'”

The document was requested by The Black Vault in September of 2017 and it was obtained in December of 2017, under NRO FOIA Case F-2017-00168.

Document Archive

 Leadership, Management, and Organization for National Security Space, July 2008 [58 Pages, 0.4MB]

https://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/dtic/ADA486551.pdf

The post Leadership, Management, and Organization for National Security Space, July 2008 first appeared on The Black Vault.

The post Office of the Director on National Intelligence (ODNI) Report of Tangible Gifts, 2005 – 2016 first appeared on The Black Vault.