Six and a Half Years Later, the DoD’s Reply to Harry Reid’s AATIP Memo Remains Missing

Despite confirmation from a Pentagon spokesperson, the Department of Defense (DoD) has failed to produce its response to Senator Harry Reid's 2009 memo regarding the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), even after six and a half years of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. Reid's letter sought heightened protection for "unconventional aerospace-related findings" under AATIP. Although the DoD previously acknowledged sending a reply to Reid, its latest FOIA determination claims no such record exists, despite departmental procedures requiring written responses to congressional inquiries. This ongoing absence fuels controversy surrounding AATIP's nature and raises questions about the DoD's record-keeping and transparency regarding sensitive programs. The lack of this crucial document leaves a significant gap in the public record surrounding a highly debated topic.