Executive Order 13526
Executive Order 13526, titled "Classified National Security Information," is a December 2009 executive order issued by President Barack Obama that prescribes a uniform system for classifying, safeguarding, and declassifying national security information in the United States. The order establishes the criteria and procedures for original classification, derivative classification, declassification, and safeguarding of classified information.
Use in Fast Walker FOIA Denials
Executive Order 13526 has been invoked repeatedly to deny FOIA requests for Fast Walker and Slow Walker detection data:
Section 1.4 Classification Criteria
The order allows classification of information that could reasonably be expected to cause damage to national security if disclosed. Specifically, agencies cite the provision protecting information deemed "critical to National Defense or foreign policy."
2013 US Northern Command Denial
US Northern Command/NORAD told John Greenewald that Fast Walker documentation is "currently and properly classified" under Executive Order 13526, stating it is "considered critical to National Defense or foreign policy and is thus controlled by the US government."
2023 US Space Force Denial
US Space Force issued a complete denial citing FOIA Exception One, which implements Executive Order 13526's classification authority for national defense and foreign policy information.
Pattern Across Decades
While Executive Order 13526 dates to 2009, similar classification invocations occurred under previous executive orders:
- 1979: NORAD refused to process Barry J. Greenwood and Lawrence Faucet's UAP tracking request, citing costs of $155,000
- 2013: NORTHCOM cited EO 13526 for Fast Walker classification
- 2023: Space Force maintained classification under the same executive order
This demonstrates consistent policy across presidential administrations (Reagan through Biden) to protect space-based UFO detection records.
Significance
The consistent invocation of Executive Order 13526 for Fast Walker data indicates this information is treated as among the most sensitive held by US military space commands — arguably more protected than many conventional defense programs. The fact that classification has been maintained across multiple administrations and organizational restructurings (Air Force Space Command → Space Force) suggests institutional permanence of this secrecy policy.
The executive order approach also means Congress would need to mandate disclosure through legislation that overrides executive classification authority — standard FOIA processes cannot penetrate this level of protection.