What did the declassified documents reveal?

Cold Open: This is a declassified document released by the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) on October 5, 2022, as part of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request filed by The Black Vault on July 3, 2020, under case number F-2020-00092. The document relates to Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) and reveals immense secrecy surrounding the issue. The canonical PDF can be found at https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/nro/F-2020-00092.pdf. Provenance: The document was released in response to an appeal by The Black Vault, after the NRO initially denied access to the requested records in full. The appeal was received on June 28, 2022, and the NRO's response was sent on September 29, 2022. The declassification authority is not specified in the document. The Document: Dear Mr. Greenewald, This is in response to your email, dated June 28, 2022, and received in the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) on June 29, 2022, in which you are appealing the NRO's "Denied in Full" response to your July 3, 2020, request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) for records related to Unidentified Flying Objects or Unidentified Aerial Phenomena. As the Appellate Authority, I have determined that there is additional information that can be released. The additional release is reflected in the revised document attached to this response. However, with regard to the remaining information that is withheld from release, I am upholding the NRO's initial determination that the information is eligible for denial, and will continue to be denied pursuant to FOIA exemptions (b)(1), as properly classified information under Executive Order 13526, Sections 1.4(c) and (b)(3). 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, occupation, series, grade, or salary of any such person. Enclosure: 1. C05136357 (4 pages) Sincerely, Matthew Merkt Appellate Authority Context: The Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) was created as part of the 2007 FOIA amendments to offer mediation services to resolve disputes between FOIA requesters and Federal agencies. Using OGIS services does not affect your right to pursue litigation. Outro: This is what the public record looks like at its most ordinary. The National Reconnaissance Office continues to withhold information related to Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, citing FOIA exemptions and the need to protect classified information. The full document can be found at https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/nro/F-2020-00092.pdf. Storyflo.com.

Why was this case declassified?

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

NRO Releases UAP Report And It Shows, Yet Again, Immense Secrecy Surrounding UAP Issue

◆ BLUF — The short version

Cold Open: This is a declassified document released by the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) on October 5, 2022, as part of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request filed by The Black Vault on July 3, 2020, under case number F-2020-00092.

Agency: NRO
Date: JUN 21 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)

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What was NRO Releases UAP Report And It Shows, Yet Again, Immense Secrecy Surrounding UAP Issue about?: Cold Open: This is a declassified document released by the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) on October 5, 2022, as part of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request filed by The Black Vault on July 3, 2020, under case number F-2020-00092.
Why was this case declassified?: This material was released by the NRO through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process.

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