What did the declassified documents reveal?

COLD OPEN: The Department of Defense, Office of the Inspector General, released a memorandum on May 3, 2021, announcing an evaluation of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, or UAP. This evaluation, designated as Project No. D2021-DEV0SN-0116.000, aimed to assess the extent of DoD actions regarding UAP. The document can be found on The Black Vault's website, at https://www.theblackvault.com/documentarchive/dod-oig-announces-unidentified-aerial-phenomena-uap-evaluation-for-may-2021/. PROVENANCE: The memorandum was released on May 4, 2021, as part of a Freedom of Information Act request. The document was declassified and made publicly available through The Black Vault. THE DOCUMENT: INSPECTOR GENERAL DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 4800 MARK CENTER DRIVE ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA 22350-1500 May 3, 2021 MEMORANDUM FOR DISTRIBUTION SUBJECT: Evaluation of the DoD’s Actions Regarding the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (Project No. D2021-DEV0SN-0116.000) We plan to begin the subject evaluation in May 2021. The objective of this evaluation is to determine the extent to which the DoD has taken actions regarding Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP). We may revise the objective as the evaluation proceeds, and we will consider suggestions from management for additional or revised objectives. We will perform the evaluation at the Offices of the Secretary of Defense, Military Services, Combatant Commands, Combat Support Agencies, Defense Agencies, and the Military Criminal Investigative Organizations. We may identify additional locations during the evaluation. Please provide us with a point of contact for the evaluation within 5 days of the date of this memorandum. The point of contact should be a Government employee or Military Service Member—a GS-15, pay band equivalent, or the military equivalent. Send the contact’s name, title, grade/pay band, phone number, and e-mail address to... Contextual information about the evaluation can be obtained from DoD Directive 5106.01, “Inspector General of the Department of Defense (IG DoD),” April 20, 2012, as amended; and DoD Instruction 7050.03, “Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense Access to Records and Information,” March 22, 2013. Our website is www.dodig.mil. If you have any questions, please contact Randolph R. Stone, Assistant Inspector General for Evaluations Space, Intelligence, Engineering, and Oversight. CONTEXT: The document's distribution list includes various high-ranking officials within the Department of Defense, including the Secretaries of the Military Departments, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Under Secretaries of Defense for Research and Engineering, Intelligence and Security, and other related agencies. OUTRO: This is what the public record looks like at its most ordinary. The Department of Defense, Office of the Inspector General, has announced an evaluation of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena. The document is available on The Black Vault's website, at…

Why was this case declassified?

This material was released by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. Storyflo narrates it from the public release.

Case · DAILY-017

DOD/OIG Announces Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) Evaluation for May 2021

JUN 21 · 2026Narrated by daily-declassified-dod-oig-announces-unidentified-aerial-phenomena-uap-evalua4 minLast updated June 21, 2026

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The short version

COLD OPEN: The Department of Defense, Office of the Inspector General, released a memorandum on May 3, 2021, announcing an evaluation of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, or UAP. This evaluation, designated as Project No. 000, aimed to assess the extent of DoD actions regarding UAP.

Agency: U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)
Date: JUN 21 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)

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Episode notes

COLD OPEN: The Department of Defense, Office of the Inspector General, released a memorandum on May 3, 2021, announcing an evaluation of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, or UAP. This evaluation, designated as Project No. D2021-DEV0SN-0116.000, aimed to assess the extent of DoD actions regarding UAP…

Questions about this case

What was DOD/OIG Announces Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) Evaluation for May 2021 about?: COLD OPEN: The Department of Defense, Office of the Inspector General, released a memorandum on May 3, 2021, announcing an evaluation of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, or UAP. This evaluation, designated as Project No. 000, aimed to assess the extent of DoD actions regarding UAP.
Why was this case declassified?: This material was released by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process.

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DOD/OIG Announces Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) Evaluation for May 2021

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