DOE releases Pantex drone incursion records via FOIA
The Department of Energy released internal records documenting multiple drone incursions over Pantex. The documents were obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request filed by The Black Vault in January 2024, revealing previously unreported security events from 2022 and 2023.
Background
On July 12, 2025, the U.S. Department of Energy released seven responsive records through a Freedom of Information Act request submitted by The Black Vault in January 2024. The disclosure revealed previously unreported drone incursions at the Pantex nuclear facility occurring in October 2022 and June 2023. Unlike earlier heavily redacted releases, these documents contained detailed witness statements, altitude measurements, and security response timelines. The records confirmed ongoing unauthorized aerial surveillance concerns over critical nuclear infrastructure and demonstrated continued gaps in perimeter defense systems against small unmanned aircraft.