Controlled Disclosure Campaign Plan for Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Records
With rising concerns and interest in unidentified anomalous phenomena records, there is a pressing need to have a streamlined and systematic method for public disclosure. The Controlled Disclosure Campaign Plan is designed to ensure that there is an orderly, thorough, and transparent process for the disclosure, postponement, and review of such records. The plan defines the responsibilities and roles of the Review Board, the President, and other governmental offices, detailing their precise actions, justifications, periodic reviews, and communication with the public and Congress.
1. Review Board’s Responsibilities:
- The Review Board is tasked with creating and transmitting the Controlled Disclosure Campaign Plan to the President, Archivist, Senate’s Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and the House’s Committee on Oversight and Accountability. This plan will detail:
- Actions and justifications related to specific unidentified anomalous phenomena records.
- A benchmark-driven plan recommending requirements for periodic review, downgrading, declassification, and the timing for disclosure.
- After reviewing a record, the Review Board will decide whether to disclose it publicly or postpone its disclosure. The originating body’s head will be notified of this decision, and a copy of the determination will be published in the Federal Register within 14 days.
- Every 30 calendar days, the Review Board will publish in the Federal Register a summary of approved postponements, detailing their subject, origin, physical description, and grounds for postponement.
- The Review Board is responsible for reporting its activities, progress, challenges, financials, and suggestions to Congress, the President, the Archivist, and other relevant governmental offices. These reports are to be given annually and will include specific details, such as the volume of records reviewed, postponement decisions, special problems faced, and any additional legislative needs.
2. Presidential Authority and Responsibilities:
- The President has the sole authority to decide on the disclosure or postponement of records from the executive branch of the Federal Government. This decision will adhere to the standards set forth in section 9006.
- The President must provide the Review Board with a detailed certification specifying the decision within 30 days after the Board’s determination. This certification will provide justifications and be accompanied by the identification aid required under section 9004.
- Any records postponed by the President will undergo periodic review, downgrading, declassification, and public disclosure, following the Controlled Disclosure Campaign Plan, unless it conflicts with section 9006 standards.
3. Notices and Reports:
- The President is to provide unclassified written certification, statement, and other materials regarding the postponement of records, which the Review Board will publish in the Federal Register.
- The Review Board will amend recommendations in the Controlled Disclosure Campaign Plan based on the President’s decisions.
- The Review Board is also mandated to report to Congress, the President, the Archivist, and other related governmental offices about its activities, progress, finances, challenges, and needs. They will also provide frequent briefings to the President, the Archivist, and Congress leadership on the Controlled Disclosure Campaign Plan, postponed disclosures, and related matters.
4. Termination and Transition:
- The Review Board will notify the President and Congress at least 90 days before its termination. Following this, they are to brief the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office or its designated successor on the Controlled Disclosure Campaign Plan, postponed disclosures, and the classified appendix.
The Controlled Disclosure Campaign Plan provides a comprehensive blueprint to ensure the systematic, transparent, and controlled release of unidentified anomalous phenomena records. By delineating the roles and responsibilities of the Review Board, the President, and other governmental offices, it ensures that the public and the legislative bodies are kept informed.
Once the Act is in place, the first report detailing the activities and findings of the Review Board will be issued exactly 1 year after the enactment date. This inaugural report will serve as a benchmark for understanding the progress made on the review, transmission, and public disclosure of the unidentified anomalous phenomena records. Following the release of the first report, the public can expect subsequent reports to be published annually, ensuring consistent transparency and accountability in the process until the termination of the Review Board.
In conjunction with the Controlled Disclosure Campaign Plan’s initiative to establish transparent protocols for the disclosure of unidentified anomalous phenomena records, recent legislative measures are ensuring a deeper commitment to openness and public awareness. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 has introduced Sections 9010 and 9011, addressing the urgency to demystify government-held information on technologies of unknown origin and evidence pointing towards non-human intelligence. These sections, while overlapping with the Controlled Disclosure Campaign Plan’s objectives, look deeper into ensuring governmental transparency. Specifically, they emphasize the importance of a transparent relationship between government agencies and the public, especially concerning materials and phenomena of unexplained origin. Such legislative strides bolster the ongoing efforts of the Review Board and other governmental bodies, pushing for a new era where mysteries are not left unsolved and the public’s right to information is upheld.
Through periodic reviews, reports, and communication channels, the plan aims to strike a balance between national security concerns and the public’s right to know, ensuring that the process remains transparent, accountable, and efficient.