Washington: DOD clears Mellon's off-world technology document
The Defense Office granted formal approval for Christopher Mellon to publish the controversial text message. Both the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office and the Office of Intelligence and Security raised no objections. The authorization concluded a six-week review process marked by internal delays and bureaucratic pressure.
Background
On March 1, 2024, officials signed the final clearance paperwork allowing public dissemination of Mellon's submission. The approval document, formatted as SD Form 403, recorded unanimous no-objection determinations from all reviewing authorities. AARO leadership had coordinated internally before confirming their position, while the Intelligence and Security office had already signaled its approval weeks earlier on February 9. The decision resolved significant administrative tension, as internal communications revealed frustration over tracking system malfunctions and repeated coordination failures. The cleared material included the full text of the alleged program reference, though subsequent FOIA releases by OSD applied trade-secret exemptions to specific portions of the message content.