April 2, 1982🇺🇸Legislation

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.🇽🇽
Type
Legislation
Country
🇺🇸 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