NSA: Denial of Top Secret UFO Document Release
The National Security Agency denied a FOIA request for five pages of UFO-related material, classifying them as Top Secret. The agency cited potential damage to national security and protection of intelligence sources. This marked the first formal denial regarding these specific documents originally referred by the DIA.
Background
Following a 2009 request by The Black Vault to the Defense Intelligence Agency for post-1996 UFO records, five pages were identified requiring NSA declassification review. On August 3, 2012, the NSA formally denied release of these documents, asserting they remained properly classified under Executive Order 13526. The agency determined disclosure would be expected to cause exceptionally grave damage to national security. Additionally, the NSA characterized the content as pertaining to intelligence activities, sources, methods, and cryptology rather than focusing specifically on unidentified flying objects.