FOIA Request Uncovers NRO and UAP Task Force Emails

COLD OPEN: This is a declassified briefing of a Freedom of Information Act request, filed by The Black Vault on June 27, 2021, seeking communications between the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) and the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force (UAPTF). The request was made following the publication of the 2021 UAP report by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which indicated that the UAPTF had received input from the NRO. The documents released are part of FOIA case F-2021-00152. PROVENANCE: The National Reconnaissance Office released the documents on February 26, 2024, in response to the FOIA request filed by John Greenewald. The documents were released in part, with material redacted under exemptions (b)(1) and (b)(3). The release was made available through The Black Vault's efforts and research. THE DOCUMENT: Dear Mr. Greenewald, This is in response to your request dated June 27, 2021, and received in the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) on June 28, 2021. Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), you requested a copy of records, including videos and photos, of communications between the NRO and the UAP Task Force. We have processed your request in accordance with the FOIA, 5 U.S.C. § 552, as amended. A thorough search of our files and databases located seventeen documents responsive to your request. One document is being denied in full, and sixteen documents are being released to you in part. Material redacted is denied pursuant to FOIA exemptions: (b)(1), as properly classified information under Executive Order 13526, Section 1.4(g); and (b)(3), which is the basis for withholding information exempt from disclosure by statute. The relevant withholding statute is 10 U.S.C. § 424, which provides that no provision of law shall be construed to require the disclosure of the organization or any function of the NRO; the number of persons employed by or assigned or detailed to the NRO; or the name or official title, occupational series, grade, or salary of any such person. You have the right to appeal this determination to the NRO Appellate Authority, 14675 Lee Road, Chantilly, VA 20151-1715, within 90 days of the above date. From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Attachments: Thursday, April 22, 2021 11:43 AM FW: (U) RE: From) ~ ' Request for a copy of your UAP proposals — Classification: SECRET//NOFORN Very simple proposal to use ]uAP's V/r [NQN-I^ (b)(3) (b)(1) (b)(3) (b)(3) NR From:; j Sent: Thursday, April 22, 2021 9:10 AM (b)(3) 1 Approved for Release: 2024/02/26 C05143005 C05143005 Approved for Release: 2024/02/26 C05143005 To: J Subject: From] ] Request for a copy of your UAP proposals — SECn-ET/ZNOFORN Classification: SECRE-T//KOfORff (b)(3) My name is Jand I work in NRO/MID/] My office is the focal point in the NRO for UAP Stuff, our efforts to support the UAPTF is called[_________ | And we were already coordinating with the] joffice. Would like a copy of theljproposals you provided. My job is to assist jin getting funding. Thanks (b)(1) (b)(3) v/r (b)(3) Classification: 0ECRET//WW Classification: SECRET//NOFOIW Classification: £ECRfrT//WFOfW [document truncated] CONTEXT: The National Reconnaissance Office considered the foreseeable harm standard when reviewing these records and applying FOIA exemptions. The released documents provide insight into the communications between the NRO and the UAPTF, but the material redacted remains classified under exemptions (b)(1) and (b)(3). OUTRO: This is what the public record looks like at its most ordinary. Storyflo.com. The Black Vault's document archive is available at theblackvault.com. The canonical PDF of this document is available at documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/nro/F-2021-00152.pdf.