DoD/OMB: Emergency clearance sought for AARO UFO reporting form
The Department of Defense submitted an emergency request to the Office of Management and Budget to approve a new contact form for reporting unidentified aerial phenomena. Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks emphasized the urgency of establishing this public reporting mechanism by October 31, 2023, to comply with congressional mandates in the FY23 National Defense Authorization Act. Via TheBlackVault.com (FOIA).
Background
On September 28, 2023, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks sent an urgent communication to the Office of Management and Budget seeking emergency clearance for a new information collection initiative. The proposed "AARO Contact Form for Authorized Reporting" would create an official channel for the public to submit UAP reports to the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office. This action responds to Section 1673 of the FY23 NDAA, which required the Secretary of Defense to establish public guidelines for authorized UAP reporting within 180 days of the Act's enactment in June 2023. The emergency clearance request under 5 C.F.R. § 1320.13 seeks to bypass standard procedural delays to meet the October 31, 2023 implementation deadline. The initiative also supports Section 1683 requirements for AARO to compile a comprehensive Historical Record Report on government UAP engagements. The request asks OMB to waive standard Federal Register notice requirements to expedite the process.