FOIA: Pentagon AARO Control Emails Released
The Black Vault obtained 14 pages of Pentagon emails through FOIA case 24-F-0894, revealing internal debates about AARO's scope and messaging strategies. The documents expose how officials restricted media access and manipulated press materials before the Historical Record Report release in March 2024.
Background
On August 27, 2025, The Black Vault published Department of Defense emails obtained through Freedom of Information Act request case 24-F-0894. The correspondence, spanning February 1 to March 7, 2024, involved Pentagon spokesperson Susan Gough and contained references to AARO and Tim Phillips. The 14-page release, heavily redacted, demonstrates the Pentagon's tight control over the Historical Record Report rollout. Communications reveal deliberate exclusion of mainstream journalists from briefings and strategic decisions to minimize ODNI's role in public announcements despite congressional reporting mandates.