17-Year FOIA Quest Ends in Complete Denial, Setting New Record for The Black Vault

The longest-running Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request in The Black Vault’s history has finally concluded after nearly two decades. Filed on June 1, 2009, the case sought a Cold War-era report titled *Analysis and Perspectives on ASAT Arms Control*, dated December 1981. Despite confirming the existence of 80 responsive pages, the Department of Defense fully withheld the records under multiple national security exemptions.

The FOIA request was assigned the number 09-F-1331 and initially received by the Office of the Secretary of War/Joint Staff FOIA Requester Service Center on July 1, 2009. After a remarkable 17-year processing period, the Department of Defense issued its final response on May 5, 2026, denying access to all requested material. The agency cited Executive Order 13526 and statutory protections, including 50 U.S.C. § 3024(h) and provisions of the Atomic Energy Act, to justify the withholding.

The breadth of involvement in this case underscores its sensitivity. Input was sought from multiple agencies, including nuclear deterrence policy officials, DARPA, the Joint Staff, the Department of State, and the Defense Intelligence Agency. Each acted as an Initial Denial Authority, reflecting the high stakes attributed to the report’s content. The agency applied the “foreseeable harm standard,” concluding that releasing even portions of the document could pose significant risks to national security and related interests.

The Black Vault has filed an appeal and requested access to the FOIA case processing notes and correspondence, which will be shared publicly if available.