U.S. Navy: All UAP videos classified exempt from FOIA release
The U.S. Navy officially denied a FOIA request seeking all UAP-related videos, declaring them fully classified. The response cited national security concerns and adversarial threats as justification. This decision concluded a lengthy pursuit by The Black Vault that began in April 2020.
Background
On July 11, 2022, the Department of the Navy responded to a Freedom of Information Act request filed by The Black Vault. The request sought all video recordings designated as Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, following the official release of three such videos in April 2020. Gary Cason, representing the Navy's FOIA office, signed the denial letter stating that the UAP Task Force confirmed these materials remain sensitive.
The Navy's response claimed exemption under 5 U.S.C. § 552 (b)(1) and Executive Order 13526. Officials argued that releasing any footage would harm national security by revealing operational capabilities and weaknesses to adversaries. Notably, the response emphasized that unlike the three previously released videos, these remaining recordings contain information that cannot be segregated for partial disclosure.
This decision followed a complex pursuit that began in April 2020 with multiple requests filed to Naval Air Systems Command, Office of Naval Intelligence, and eventually the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. The 17-month delay at ONI resulted in a referral to N2/N6, where the final denial was issued after only two months of processing.