Summary
On February 24, 2026 — days after donald-trump publicly called for the release of UAP files — the U.S. Navy formally denied a FOIA appeal by the-black-vault (case DON-NAVY-2022-012661, appeal 2026-NavyAppeal-000123) seeking 78 photographs designated as UAP. The Office of the Judge Advocate General upheld the full denial, citing FOIA Exemption (b)(1) and classification under executive-order-13526. The Navy stated that because the photographs are currently and properly classified, there is “no discretion” to release any portion, and that the appellate authority cannot override the Original Classification Authority (OCA). The decision highlights a structural tension: the same executive-order framework that gives a president power to declassify is also the legal mechanism blocking release through the FOIA process. Trump’s public calls for UAP transparency produced no change in the FOIA outcome.
Key Claims
- The Navy confirmed 78 responsive UAP photographs exist but remain fully withheld under FOIA Exemption (b)(1) and Executive Order 13526. (U.S. Navy, Office of Judge Advocate General, Feb 24 2026)
- “Segregation was not possible” — no portion of the photos can be released in redacted form. (Navy appeal response)
- The appellate authority explicitly stated it has “no authority to tell the OCA otherwise” once a record is properly classified. (Navy appeal response)
- The original FOIA request was filed by the-black-vault in September 2022; the initial denial in November 2024 confirmed the 78 images exist. (John Greenewald)
- The appeal invoked the November 13, 2024 congressional UAP hearing (“Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Exposing the Truth”) as public-interest grounds. (John Greenewald)
- Trump’s public calls for UAP release and Congressional concerns about overclassification have produced no change in the FOIA outcome. (John Greenewald)
Notable Quotes
“The IDA confirmed that as of today, these records are still classified in accordance with Executive Order 13526.” — Navy Office of the Judge Advocate General
“I am satisfied that the OCA’s classification of the records responsive to your request satisfies the requirements under FOIA exemption (b)(1)… Therefore, as the DON appellate authority for FOIA appeals, I have no authority to tell the OCA otherwise.” — Navy appellate authority