April 2, 1982๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธLegislation

Reagan EO 12356: FOIA Response Times Eliminated, UFO Research Crippled

President Reagan signs Executive Order #12356, eliminating response time limits for FOIA requests. Searches become significantly delayed (2+ years common) and fees skyrocket (up to $250,000). The golden era of FOIA-based UFO document retrieval effectively ends. UFO data flow slows to a trickle compared to the late 1970s.

Date
April 2, 1982
Location
Washington, D.C.District of Columbia๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
Type
Legislation
Country
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ United States
Map

Background

1. On April 2, 1982, President Ronald Reagan signed Executive Order 12356. This legislation significantly impacted the accessibility of UFO-related information through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The order effectively crippled FOIA as a tool for UFO researchers.

The Incident

* Executive Order 12356, signed by President Reagan, eliminated mandatory response time limits for FOIA requests.
* This change resulted in substantial delays in processing requests, with searches commonly taking two or more years.
* Furthermore, fees associated with FOIA requests dramatically increased, sometimes reaching as high as $250,000.

Investigation

There is no mention of an official investigation into the effects of EO 12356 in the provided text.

Significance

* Executive Order 12356 marked the end of what some consider the "golden era" of UFO document retrieval via FOIA.
* The order significantly slowed the flow of UFO-related data to researchers and the public.
* The increased delays and costs associated with FOIA requests made it substantially more difficult for researchers to access government information on UFOs.

Connections

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