Claim · E-015
Luis Elizondo: Writes that AATIP was an official program that was never closed, that when the funds ran out he continued to lead it, and that he worked on the AATIP “portfolio” as a member of the OUSD(I) staff until his resignation; he warns that he may turn to an attorney.
Luis Elizondo · Jun 5, 2019 · Letter to the Department of Defense press office (released under FOIA 25-F-2554) (Document)
Direct knowledge AATIP and AAWSAP
Contradicted
AARO (March 2024) writes that AATIP was never an official DoD program and that the DIA canceled it in 2012, and Elizondo himself in the book Imminent (2024) describes AATIP as unofficial.
- Original words
AATIP was an official program that was never shut down
- In support
- AARO acknowledges that after the cancellation of AAWSAP the name “AATIP” was used by some people, which is consistent with an informal continuation; Senator Harry Reid's letter of June 24, 2009 requested special access program status for “AATIP,” and the DoD confirmed its authenticity; in May 2021 the DoD acknowledged that AATIP dealt with UFO research (Politico).
- Against or denials
- Garry Reid memorandum (December 2017): AATIP was closed in 2012; Navy email (2019): no funding line or significant resources; DIA information memo of November 13, 2009: no basis in DoD regulations for establishing a restricted special access program; AARO (2024): AATIP never official, program canceled by the DIA in 2012.
Sources
- DoD, FOIA 25-F-2554 – documents on Elizondo 2017–2019 (emails, letter of June 5, 2019, replies from the Navy and the press office) (primary source)
- AARO, Report on the Historical Record of U.S. Government Involvement with UAP, Vol. 1, March 8, 2024 (The Black Vault copy) (primary source)
- DIA, briefing memo for the meeting with Senator Reid, November 13, 2009 (The Black Vault copy) (primary source)
- Letter from Senator Harry Reid to the Deputy Secretary of Defense on the SAP status of AATIP, June 24, 2009 (DIA release, The Black Vault copy) (primary source)
On this site
People 1
Claims 2
- Luis Elizondo: Claims to have directed for almost a decade a sensitive aerospace threat identification program (AATIP)… Disputed
- Luis Elizondo: Maintains that a faction within the government regarded the phenomenon as demonic in nature and for that… Disputed
Inconsistencies 1
Documents 4
- Senator Reid's letter asking to protect AATIP with a special access program Original available
- The DIA prepares for the meeting with Reid: no basis for a special access program Original available
- AARO's Historical Record Report, vol. 1 (March 2024) Original available
- The Pentagon's emails on Elizondo and AATIP (2017–2019), released in 2025 Original available
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