Navy Rejects Release of 78 Classified UAP Images, Citing National Security

The U.S. Navy has officially denied an appeal to release 78 photographs categorized as "unidentified aerial phenomena" (UAP), a decision made just days after former President Donald Trump publicly advocated for the disclosure of such files. This denial, issued on February 24, 2026, upholds an earlier rejection of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request initially filed by The Black Vault in September 2022. The Navy maintains that all 78 images remain classified under FOIA Exemption (b)(1), which pertains to information classified in the interest of national defense or foreign policy.

The original FOIA request sought all UAP-designated photographs archived by the U.S. Navy. In November 2024, the Navy confirmed the existence of these 78 responsive photographs but withheld them entirely, citing classification under Executive Order 13526 and the UAP Classification Guide. The Office of the Judge Advocate General, in its appeal response, confirmed the continued classification of these records, stating that segregation of the documents for partial release was not possible due to their sensitive nature.

The Navy emphasized that when information is properly classified under FOIA Exemption (b)(1), there is no discretion for its release. The appeal authority deferred to the Original Classification Authority (OCA), asserting that it lacked the power to override the OCA's classification decision. This stance underscores the government's commitment to maintaining the secrecy of these UAP-related images, despite public interest and calls for greater transparency.