Confirmation of AARO's Handling of UAP Record Transfers
Yesterday, I received follow ups for my FOIAs to the Air Force and Space Force (same FOIA team) asking that I narrow the scope to include specific departments that would have lists of UAP records to transfer to NARA. These have been the only agencies so far to make such a request. In order to find out where to focus the FOIA search, I reached out to the Air Force/Space Force Agency Records Officer. I received a timely response that read:
"Yes, the review is ongoing. The Air Force Declassification Office (AFDO), https://www.secretsdeclassified.af.mil/Contact-Us/ , reviews records from US Air Force and US Space Force. AFDO also works with DoD’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), https://www.aaro.mil/ . AARO is submitting the UAP record copies cleared and provided by DoD components to NARA - https://www.archives.gov/research/topics/uaps ."
This confirms two critical things. First, despite reviews being legally due to be completed by October 20, 2024, some element of a review is still ongoing. Second, and most importantly, AARO will be handling all of the DOD's UAP record transfers to NARA and that the review is still ongoing. It shouldn't be a surprise that AARO would be involved in the transfers, however it adds another step where records could get removed from the transfers or withheld from public release. Both the NDAA and NARA requested record reviews from all federal agencies. When an agency rolls up under a department the handling can become a bit different. However, each agency within the DOD should still be doing the initial review themselves. Each agency also typically does their own transfers to NARA. So the question is, what is AARO doing with these records that hasn't already occurred with the previous agency?