Claim · E-002
Luis Elizondo: In the resignation letter he claims that there is overwhelming evidence, classified and unclassified, of anomalous aerospace threats, that the phenomenon often shows a direct correlation with U.S. nuclear and military capabilities, and that the Navy and other armed services have reported unusual aerial systems interfering with weapons platforms; he accuses some officials of opposing further research into what could be a threat to national security.
Luis Elizondo · Oct 4, 2017 · Resignation memorandum addressed to the Secretary of Defense (second letter, effective October 4, 2017) (Document)
Direct knowledge Sightings, video, sensors
Unverifiable
The letter is authentic and is found in DoD records, but the evidence it invokes is classified and not public.
- Original words
Despite overwhelming evidence at both the unclassified and classified levels
- In support
- The document appears in the FOIA release from the DoD Office of Inspector General, and Christopher Mellon cites the same passages from it; in 2019 the Navy described the objects in the three videos as unidentified aerial phenomena, and Pentagon spokesperson Susan Gough linked them to an increase in incursions into training ranges (New York Times, as cited by Wikipedia).
- Against or denials
- According to Garry Reid's memorandum, the letter was delivered after Elizondo had already left the office and, because of its uncertain provenance, was not forwarded to the Secretary; the letter does not name AATIP and does not mention UFOs, aliens or recovered craft; AARO states that it has found no empirical evidence of technology of non-terrestrial origin.
Sources
- DoD Office of Inspector General, FOIA release DODIG-2022-000313 (with the 2017 resignation letter and a copy of the Politico article of May 26, 2021) (primary source)
- Memorandum for Record by Garry Reid (OUSD(I)), late December 2017 – FOIA 22-F-1322, released April 2, 2024 (primary source)
- Christopher Mellon – why Elizondo was not reinstated in his DoD job, January 7, 2022 (analysis, pro-disclosure)
- Wikipedia – “Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program” (cross-reference) (other)
On this site
People 1
Claims 4
- Luis Elizondo: Claims to have left the Pentagon in protest against internal opposition and the lack of resources, and to… Disputed
- Luis Elizondo: Claims under oath that the data have indicated for decades a link between UAP and sensitive military… Unverifiable
- Luis Elizondo: Claims that when he was at the Pentagon, UAP reports to his office were increasing while resources were… Partly verified
- Luis Elizondo: Claims that there have been episodes in which UAP interfered with U.S. nuclear capabilities by putting them… Unverifiable
Inconsistencies 2
- Luis Elizondo: Title in AATIP: “director” or no formal role?
- Luis Elizondo: The approach to Mattis: aerospace threats or transfer of material?
Documents 1
- Elizondo's two resignation letters (October 2017) Original available
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