The Black Vault Doc. Archive NEWS (Page) by newskids AATIP and the Pentagon: The Struggle Over UFO Program RecordsOn 23 April 2024Since October 2017, The Black Vault has investigated the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), an alleged UFO program led by Luis Elizondo. In 2019, Elizondo, claiming to have led AATIP, engaged in a dispute with the Pentagon over misrepresentation of his duties and the impact on his reputation, pushing for corrections through various communications. [...] The post AATIP and the Pentagon: The Struggle Over UFO Program Records first appeared on The Black Vault.… Read moreFOIA Documents Reveal AARO’s Authorized and Repeated Attempts to Engage with David GruschOn 18 April 2024The All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), tasked to investigate Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), made numerous attempts to interview UFO whistleblower David Grusch regarding his claims of U.S. Government engagement with extraterrestrial materials and technologies. These new documents were just released to The Black Vault in FOIA case 24-F-0266, which was filed on November 2, 2023, [...] The post FOIA Documents Reveal AARO’s Authorized and Repeated Attempts to Engage with David Grusch first appeared on The Black Vault.… Read moreDoD Releases “KONA BLUE” DocumentsOn 16 April 2024The following was the description by the DoD about KONA BLUE. It is reproduced here, followed by the documents released. The Black Vault has had requests for material related to this since January of 2024. Those case(s) are still being processed, and the results will be posted, when available. For now, this information is posted [...] The post DoD Releases “KONA BLUE” Documents first appeared on The Black Vault.… Read moreNewly Released 1963 Report Sheds Light on Nuclear Era Urban Defense StrategiesOn 12 April 2024After nearly a decade of waiting, The Black Vault has successfully acquired a document through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request initially filed on July 20, 2015. The response, which arrived on April 5, 2024, from the Department of Defense, delivered a detailed 76-page analysis entitled “Military Technology and the Survival of Cities.” This [...] The post Newly Released 1963 Report Sheds Light on Nuclear Era Urban Defense Strategies first appeared on The Black Vault.… Read moreNational Guard Bureau Transition Book, Date UnknownOn 9 April 2024These records were provided by the family of anthologist and transparency activist Russ Kick, from his papers, facilitated by the generous assistance of Dr. Susan Maret. This is not a complete collection set of his papers, but rather, a selection of items sent to The Black Vault for digital preservation. The National Guard Bureau (NGB) plays [...] The post National Guard Bureau Transition Book, Date Unknown first appeared on The Black Vault.… Read moreFBI Files: American Politicians, Aides, and AppointeesOn 9 April 2024It comes as no surprise, as celebrities and gangsters were being watched — so were the politicians. The following is a list of released records. Document Archive Abzug, Bella [980 Pages, 68MB] – Bella Savitzky Abzug (July 24, 1920 – March 31, 1998), nicknamed “Battling Bella”, was an American lawyer, U.S. Representative, social activist and [...] The post FBI Files: American Politicians, Aides, and Appointees first appeared on The Black Vault.… Read moreFinal Report on the External Peer Review of the Defense Intelligence Agency, Office of Inspector General, Audit Staff (2107-0022-AS)On 9 April 2024These records were provided by the family of anthologist and transparency activist Russ Kick, from his papers, facilitated by the generous assistance of Dr. Susan Maret. This is not a complete collection set of his papers, but rather, a selection of items sent to The Black Vault for digital preservation. The released documents relate to an [...] The post Final Report on the External Peer Review of the Defense Intelligence Agency, Office of Inspector General, Audit Staff (2107-0022-AS) first appeared on The Black Vault.… Read moreOctober 2019 HPSCI Subpoena of Mark Esper And Preservation Notice Issued to NSAOn 8 April 2024This FOIA release obtained by The Black Vault contains a partially redacted email involving National Security Agency (NSA) Director General Paul M. Nakasone, dated October 17, 2019. The email, marked “UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY,” is addressed to General Nakasone, Mr. Barnes, the Executive Director, Members of the Board of Directors (BoD), and senior leaders. The [...] The post October 2019 HPSCI Subpoena of Mark Esper And Preservation Notice Issued to NSA first appeared on The Black Vault.… Read moreFOIA & MDR Case LogsOn 8 April 2024Background The Freedom of Information Act allows any requester to get as FOIA case logs. Below, you will find a list of all FOIA requests and Mandatory Declassification Review (MDR) requests made by the public to various agencies. These are very useful to see who is requesting what and can be very useful for ideas! FOIA [...] The post FOIA & MDR Case Logs first appeared on The Black Vault.… Read moreDeclassified FBI Cyber Threat Assessment Illuminates 2008 Digital DangersOn 5 April 2024After a seven-year effort to obtain information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through a Mandatory Declassification Review (MDR), The Black Vault has finally succeeded in acquiring a previously unreleased document, albeit heavily redacted. Before this release, only brief citations were found in other files, also released to The Black Vault by the FBI. [...] The post Declassified FBI Cyber Threat Assessment Illuminates 2008 Digital Dangers first appeared on The Black Vault.… Read moreFBI Files: Historical Figures & GroupsOn 5 April 2024Background Welcome to the FBI Files on Historical Figures & Groups archive at The Black Vault. This comprehensive collection provides a unique lens into the lives and activities of various prominent individuals and groups that have played significant roles in shaping history. These files offer a rare glimpse into the FBI’s surveillance, investigation, and documentation [...] The post FBI Files: Historical Figures & Groups first appeared on The Black Vault.… Read moreFBI File: The FBI Story A Report to the People (Book), by Don WhiteheadOn 5 April 2024Here are the FBI files on the book by Don Whitehead entitled, The FBI Story A Report to the People. Here is a synopsis of the book: “What is the FBI? How did it come into being? What has it accomplished? What are its powers? Above all, what does the mere fact of its existence [...] The post FBI File: The FBI Story A Report to the People (Book), by Don Whitehead first appeared on The Black Vault.… Read moreFAA Safety Oversight CircularsOn 4 April 2024Safety Oversight Circulars issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are formal documents that provide guidance, information, and recommendations regarding aviation safety. These circulars are part of the FAA’s efforts to promote and improve safety within the aviation industry. Here’s a detailed breakdown of their key aspects: Purpose and Scope: Guidance and Best Practices: They [...] The post FAA Safety Oversight Circulars first appeared on The Black Vault.… Read moreDoD Releases Another AOIMSG Briefing Card: Questions Raised Over Redactions (UPDATED)On 3 April 2024UPDATE: This story was originally published on May 25, 2023. However, on April 3, 2024, this story was updated with a FOIA appeal win, which produced the briefing card, with the relevant redactions lifted. That update appears below the article. The Department of Defense released another ‘Briefing Card’ about the AOIMSG, a DoD effort previously [...] The post DoD Releases Another AOIMSG Briefing Card: Questions Raised Over Redactions (UPDATED) first appeared on The Black Vault.… Read moreFormer FBI Director James Comey Emails With Keyword: TrumpOn 3 April 2024In March of 2018, The Black Vault filed a FOIA request (case 1401549-000) to the FBI for the following: “… all e-mails sent to or from, Director of the FBI James Comey, which contain the word ‘TRUMP’. I ask that you conduct a search for records dating from 1/1/16 to 5/9/17.” The request was originally [...] The post Former FBI Director James Comey Emails With Keyword: Trump first appeared on The Black Vault.… Read moreDoD/IG Emails on Luis Elizondo – A Small Puzzle Piece RevealedOn 2 April 2024Article originally published June 28, 2022. Updated on April 2, 2024 On June 28, 2022, The Black Vault received a FOIA response that had a small batch of records. It asked for a search of 8 email boxes, that contain the keyword “Elizondo.” Those email boxes were: 1. Steven A. Stebbins, Acting Principal Deputy Inspector [...] The post DoD/IG Emails on Luis Elizondo – A Small Puzzle Piece Revealed first appeared on The Black Vault.… Read moreUPS vs. Canada Post: A 2000 Courier Clash Over NAFTA’s Fair Trade RulesOn 27 March 2024The document is a detailed legal statement of claim submitted by United Parcel Service of America Inc. (UPS) against the Government of Canada under the Arbitration Rules of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The dated 2000 claim alleges that Canada has breached its [...] The post UPS vs. Canada Post: A 2000 Courier Clash Over NAFTA’s Fair Trade Rules first appeared on The Black Vault.… Read moreFBI Files: Directors, Agents and Personnel of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)On 27 March 2024Background The following are FBI files of prominent FBI figures and agents. Many of the files are broken into different parts, for easier downloading. Many also have “bookmarks” in the .pdf showing the different sections available on each file. FBI Files Chaffetz, Maxwell – [209 Pages, 12.5MB] – Maxwell (Max) Chaffetz (1909-1986) was an FBI [...] The post FBI Files: Directors, Agents and Personnel of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) first appeared on The Black Vault.… Read moreFBI High Visibility MemorandaOn 27 March 2024Background An FBI High Visibility Memorandum is an internal document used by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to communicate information about cases or matters that are considered to be of high public, media, or governmental interest. These memoranda are used to inform senior FBI officials and other relevant parties about the status, developments, or [...] The post FBI High Visibility Memoranda first appeared on The Black Vault.… Read moreUAP Reporting and Material Disposition Procedures ReleasedOn 19 March 2024In a recent Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) release, the Department of Defense provided documents in response to a request by Douglas Dean Johnson. The request, filed under case number 23-F-1429, sought information about the Joint Staff’s guidance on “Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) Reporting and Material Disposition.” The FOIA response, dated March 15, 2024, revealed [...] The post UAP Reporting and Material Disposition Procedures Released first appeared on The Black Vault.… Read morePrivate/Unlisted YouTube Videos of U.S. Government AgenciesOn 18 March 2024Background Many U.S. government agencies and military branches have public YouTube pages. That is no secret. However, within these channels, lies a hidden treasure trove of PRIVATE/UNLISTED videos NOT accessible by the general public. Through the Freedom of Information Act, The Black Vault along with another researcher has tackled trying to get access to these [...] The post Private/Unlisted YouTube Videos of U.S. Government Agencies first appeared on The Black Vault.… Read moreThe MEGABYTE Act of 2016 – Software License InventoriesOn 18 March 2024Background In 2016, the MEGABYTE Act of 2016 was passed. This law requires agencies to get a better handle on their software licenses, simply due to the extreme financial waste when it comes to software purchases. This law requires that: … each CIO establish a comprehensive inventory of software licenses, track and maintain such licenses, [...] The post The MEGABYTE Act of 2016 – Software License Inventories first appeared on The Black Vault.… Read moreSeed Global Health Communications with the Peace Corps: A FOIA Release SummaryOn 15 March 2024In 2019, documents were released under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to The Black Vault, shedding light on communications between Seed Global Health and the Peace Corps. Seed Global Health, initially known as the Global Health Service Corps, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening health education and delivery in places with dire shortages [...] The post Seed Global Health Communications with the Peace Corps: A FOIA Release Summary first appeared on The Black Vault.… Read moreUnveiling the Departure of Saudi Nationals Post 9/11: A Puzzling ChapterOn 15 March 2024In the aftermath of the devastating terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, a perplexing episode unfolded as numerous Saudi Arabian nationals, including members of the elite, were allowed to leave the United States on flights despite a nationwide grounding of air traffic. This enigmatic episode has sparked curiosity and debate over the years. According to [...] The post Unveiling the Departure of Saudi Nationals Post 9/11: A Puzzling Chapter first appeared on The Black Vault.… Read moreBureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) “Significant Information Reports”On 14 March 2024Significant Information Reports (SIRs) are a specific type of reporting mechanism used by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to document and disseminate information about events, incidents, or activities that have substantial implications for law enforcement operations, public safety, or national security. These reports are intended [...] The post Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) “Significant Information Reports” first appeared on The Black Vault.… Read more