OSD: FOIA Request for AATIP Meeting Returns No Records
The Office of the Secretary of Defense responded to a Freedom of Information Act request asserting that no records exist for the August 28, 2017 meeting documented in Neill Tipton's calendar. The Black Vault filed an immediate appeal.
Background
On November 21, 2025, the Office of the Secretary of Defense issued a determination regarding case 24-F-0839 submitted by The Black Vault. The agency asserted that comprehensive searches within OUSD(I&S) systems failed to locate any responsive materials for the specific August 2017 appointment. This declaration contradicts existing calendar evidence previously released under a separate request. The response argues that if documentation had existed, the search would have revealed it. The Black Vault immediately challenged this determination, citing federal precedent requiring thorough searches when official records indicate related materials should exist.