U.S. Navy: Denial of FOIA requests for classified UAP documents
The Navy declined requests for classified UAP documents submitted under the Freedom of Information Act. In a January 28, 2020 letter, officials cited exemptions for military operations and national security. The denied records included pilot reporting guidelines and Senate briefing materials.
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Background
The United States Navy formally rejected three separate Freedom of Information Act requests submitted by The Black Vault during 2019. The denial response, dated January 28, 2020, asserted that responsive documents remained properly classified under executive order provisions protecting military operations and weapons systems.
Requestors sought multiple categories of sensitive materials. These included finalized guidelines instructing naval aviators on reporting procedures for unidentified aerial phenomena encounters. Additionally, researchers requested briefing materials presented to congressional members regarding aviation safety hazards posed by advanced unidentified craft.
A particularly significant denial involved a classified background paper stored on the Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System. This document allegedly contains comprehensive analysis regarding the nature of UAP incidents affecting Navy operations. The comprehensive rejection signals ongoing institutional commitment to maintaining secrecy around unidentified aerial phenomena despite growing congressional and public interest.
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