Pentagon Handpicked Friendly Journalists for Secret UFO Briefing as FOIA Lifts the Lid

The Pentagon has long been secretive about Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena, but newly released documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) now show just how tightly it controlled media access.

Only a carefully curated list of journalists was allowed to attend an embargoed, invite-only briefing in March 2024, raising questions about who gets to cover one of the most mysterious topics in modern government history.

How the Briefing Was Carefully Controlled

According to the FOIA records, the briefing on 6 March 2024, centred on the Department of Defense's Historical Record Report Volume 1 (HRRV1), part of the congressionally mandated review of US government UAP programs. Pentagon spokesperson Susan Gough invited select media, outlining strict conditions: attendance was 'OFF THE RECORD / FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY / NOT FOR DAYBOOKS.' Participants had to respond in writing agreeing to an embargo until the report's public release two days later.

Only one representative per outlet could attend, and invitations were explicitly non-transferable. The briefing was described as 'on-record and off-camera,' but access was strictly limited, demonstrating a level of control unusual even for Pentagon press events.

Who Was Invited and Who Remained In the Dark

The released email lists journalists from major outlets, including The New York Times, CNN, Politico, Task & Purpose, and The Washington Post, with named representatives such as Kayla Guo, Jeff Schogol, David Martin, Oren Liebermann, Lara Seligman, and Dan Lamothe.

However, the FOIA release also includes redactions under Exemption (b)(6), protecting personal privacy. At least two recipients in the BCC field remain unidentified, leaving open questions about additional invitees. They could have been journalists, media staff, or even military personnel quietly included. The redactions highlight that the publicly known list of attendees, previously inferred from a transcript, was incomplete.

Unlike typical Pentagon briefings, which often allow broader listening access or remote participation, this roundtable was tightly curated, emphasising that only select journalists were trusted with the information before public disclosure.

Why Transparency Concerns are Growing

The NDAA mandate for the Historical Record Report reflected bipartisan interest in clarity and oversight of UAP programs. The selective briefing strategy, while standard practice for embargoed announcements, has drawn scrutiny because the public's right to information about unexplained phenomena is weighed against tight Pentagon control.

The FOIA documents reveal that the Department of Defense located only a single responsive invitation record. No further emails or briefing documents were released, confirming how narrowly the event was managed. Even as the public awaited the unclassified report, access was confined to handpicked outlets, leaving questions about whether other media or independent researchers were deliberately excluded.

Inside the Pentagon's Media Playbook

Taken alongside the previously published transcript of the March 2024 roundtable, the FOIA records offer a rare window into Pentagon media curation. The documents show that early access to sensitive UAP information was a privilege reserved for a handful of journalists willing to adhere to strict rules.

While the release of HRRV1 itself was a step towards transparency, the limited briefing underlines the Pentagon's ongoing control over how information is presented. The records illustrate that even in an era of increasing interest and public scrutiny, the Department of Defense can tightly manage which voices get to report first on topics that capture the imagination of millions.

For those following the slow unfolding of government disclosure on UAPs, the FOIA documents provide both clarity and mystery. They confirm who received special access, who remains unknown, and how tightly the Pentagon curates interactions with the press—reminding the public that when it comes to UFOs, secrecy remains the rule rather than the exception.