ODNI denies FOIA request on UFO whistleblower Grusch documents
National intelligence officials rejected a records petition concerning UFO whistleblower David Grusch. The agency declined to confirm or deny holding documents about his communications with the oversight body. Citing security exemptions, the response maintained secrecy despite Grusch's public testimony.
Background
During the first week of January 2024, intelligence authorities answered a transparency petition submitted by the investigative platform six months earlier. The inquiry targeted materials connected to David Grusch's formal complaint regarding aerial phenomena submitted to the internal watchdog. Rather than releasing files, administrators invoked statutory protections for sensitive information. They specifically mentioned a 1947 national security provision that permits agencies to avoid acknowledging whether specific records exist. This approach, known as a Glomar response, prevents any admission of document possession. The investigative platform has since challenged this decision through official appeal channels.