Brief
Special Access Program (SAP)
The claims the writer was given for Special Access Program (SAP), in the order they were given.
1
The 2009 Harry Reid memo outlined Senator Harry Reid's request and reasoning to get the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP) a "Special Access Program" (SAP) status, and was written to the Deputy Secretary of Defense, William Lynn III.
“The memo outlined Senator Reid’s request and reasoning to get the AATIP a “Special Access Program” or SAP status, and was written to the Deputy Secretary of Defense, William Lynn III.”
Pentagon Reinforces Mr. Luis Elizondo Had “No Responsibilities” on AATIP; Senator Harry Reid’s 2009 Memo Changes Nothing 2019-06-14 char:2546-2725 administrative second hand
2
David Charles Grusch said: "When you have multiple agencies nesting UAP activities in conventional SAP/CAP programs, both as recipients of exploitation-related insights and for operational reasons, without appropriate reporting to various oversight authorities, you have a problem," referencing the Special Access Programs (SAP) and Controlled Access Programs (CAP).
““When you have multiple agencies nesting UAP activities in conventional SAP/CAP programs, both as recipients of exploitation-related insights and for operational reasons, without appropriate reporting to various oversight authorities, you have a problem,” Grusch said, referencing the highly secret Special Access Programs and Controlled Access Programs.”
Intelligence Officials Say U.S. Has Retrieved Craft of Non-Human Origin 2023-06-05 char:13757-14101 opinion first hand
3
Christopher Mellon's role on the Senate Intelligence Committee staff required him to review top-secret Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) projects inside Special Access Programs (SAPs), most of which remain classified.
“His role on the Senate Intelligence Committee staff required him to review top-secret Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) projects inside Special Access Programs (SAPs), most of which still remain classified.”
In Plain Sight 2023-11-17 ch13:9050-9253 administrative
4
Some black-world budget projects in the US Special Access Program system are hidden so deeply that it is a crime for anyone read into a project to even reveal its existence.
“Some black-world budget projects are hidden so deep, it is a crime for anyone read into a project to even reveal its existence.11”
In Plain Sight 2023-11-17 ch14:10669-10796 administrative
5
Special Access Programs (SAPs) are where the US Defense Department hides most of its super-secret black-budget classified projects.
“SAPs are where the US Defence Department hides most of its super-secret black-budget classified projects.”
In Plain Sight 2023-11-17 ch14:10799-10895 administrative
6
A Special Access Program (SAP) designation is not actually a higher security classification than top secret; it simply means the project is compartmented, deemed Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI), and designated a codename.
“A further cloak of secrecy in addition to the highest top-secret security classification, an SAP designation is not actually a higher security classification than top secret. It simply means the project is compartmented, deemed Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI), and designated a codename.”
In Plain Sight 2023-11-17 ch14:10905-11193 administrative
7
Even the most senior military officials with the highest top-secret security clearance are forbidden from knowing the details behind a Special Access Program (SAP) or Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) codename unless they are 'read into' it.
“Even the most senior military officials with the highest top-secret security clearance are forbidden from knowing the details behind an SAP/SCI codename unless they are *read* into it.”
In Plain Sight 2023-11-17 ch14:11203-11384 administrative
8
Unacknowledged Special Access Programs (USAPs) are projects whose very existence can and must be denied by those who know about them, with the true funding hidden.
“There are also USAPs, Unacknowledged Special Access Programs, which means the project's very existence can and must be denied by those who know about it, the true funding hidden.”
In Plain Sight 2023-11-17 ch14:11389-11587 administrative
9
Steven Greer claims that when Admiral Thomas Wilson saw the leaked document Greer sent him, he was very upset that there were Special Access Program project codenames on the list that were unknown to him, the second-most powerful man in Defense Intelligence.
“When Admiral Tom Wilson saw the leaked document Greer sent him,12 he was, Greer claims, very upset that there were SAP project codenames on the list that were unknown to him, the second-most powerful man in Defence Intelligence.”
In Plain Sight 2023-11-17 ch14:12137-12352 hearsay second hand
10
Admiral Tom Wilson recalled that his visitors at the 1997 Pentagon meeting raised concerns about possible special access programs dealing with UFOs.
“Wilson recalled ‘my visitors’ concerns about possible “special access programs” dealing with that subject.”
In Plain Sight 2023-11-17 ch14:22310-22408 testimony second hand
11
Admiral Tom Wilson believed Edgar Mitchell's team's objective at the 1997 Pentagon meeting was to solicit his assistance in achieving access to or knowledge of the alleged special access programs on UFOs.
“I believe, as some reports suggest, that Dr Mitchell’s team’s objective was to solicit my assistance in achieving access or knowledge of such programs.”
In Plain Sight 2023-11-17 ch14:22417-22559 opinion second hand
12
Admiral Tom Wilson stated he did not acknowledge or suggest that special access programs on UFOs existed, nor that he would attempt to gain access if they did, and that he never had knowledge of such programs.
“I most certainly did not acknowledge or even suggest that such programs existed nor that I would attempt to gain access if they did. In fact, I did neither then, nor since then, ever have knowledge of such programs.”
In Plain Sight 2023-11-17 ch14:22570-22777 testimony second hand
13
In advance of their April 1997 Pentagon visit, Steven Greer sent Admiral Thomas Wilson's staff a leaked US National Reconnaissance Office document detailing a series of authentic codenames for highly top-secret Special Access Programs (SAPs).
“In advance of their visit, Greer had sent Admiral Wilson's staff a leaked US National Reconnaissance Office document that detailed a series of what turned out to be authentic codenames for highly top-secret so-called Special Access Programs (SAPs).”
In Plain Sight 2023-11-17 ch14:9972-10214 administrative
14
In June 2009, Senator Harry Reid wrote to the US Secretary of Defence requesting that the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP) be given the status of a Special Access Program (SAP).
“To add spice to the mystery, in June 2009, then Senator Harry Reid wrote to the US Secretary of Defence requesting the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP) be given the status of a Special Access Program (SAP).”
In Plain Sight 2023-11-17 ch17:17145-17397 administrative
15
Harry Reid's request for Special Access Program status for the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP) investigation was rejected.
“It was a strong sell but the Senator's request for Special Access Program status for the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program investigation was rejected.”
In Plain Sight 2023-11-17 ch17:19003-19159 administrative
16
Ross Coulthart speculates the Pentagon UAP briefing slides may have prompted Senator Harry Reid to ask the Department of Defense for Special Access Program protection for the UAP investigation.
“Perhaps it was these slides that prompted Senator Harry Reid to ask the Department of Defence for Special Access Program protection for the investigation – because what the slides said was momentous.”
In Plain Sight 2023-11-17 ch25:17854-18043 opinion first hand
17
Tom Wilson said that many of the people named in the memo as people he interacted with, including Oke Shannon, Mike Crawford, Linda, Rich and Doug, are completely unknown to him, as are the conversations he purportedly had on Special Access Programs related to UFOs with senior Department of Defence officials.
“Many of the people (Oke Shannon, Mike Crawford, Linda, Rich, Doug) he characterises in the memo as people I interacted with are completely unknown to me, as are the conversations I purportedly had on Special Access Programs related to UFOs with senior officials in the Department of Defence.”
In Plain Sight 2023-11-17 ch26:11888-12171 testimony first hand
18
In the memo, Tom Wilson is reported as saying he was told of 'a special projects record group not belonging to usual SAP - a special subset of the unacknowledged/carve-outs/waived programs'.
“‘They told me of a special projects record group not belonging to usual SAP – a special subset of the unacknowledged/carve-outs/waived programs,’ Wilson reportedly said in the memo.”
In Plain Sight 2023-11-17 ch26:13817-13992 hearsay second hand
19
In the memo, Eric Davis asked Tom Wilson which Special Access Program compartment he found the Program hidden in and under which codename.
“Davis then asked Wilson a series of questions, such as which Special Access Program compartment he found the Program hidden in and under which codename.”
In Plain Sight 2023-11-17 ch26:13998-14141 hearsay second hand
20
Bill Sweetman wrote that an unacknowledged Special Access Program - a black program - is considered so sensitive that the fact of its existence is a 'core secret', defined in United States Air Force regulations as any item, progress, strategy or element of information whose compromise would result in unrecoverable failure.
“‘An unacknowledged SAP [Special Access Program] – a black program – is a program which is considered so sensitive that the fact of its existence is a “core secret”, defined in USAF regulations as “any item, progress, strategy or element of information the compromise of which would result in unrecoverable failure”,’ Sweetman wrote.”
In Plain Sight 2023-11-17 ch26:14538-14863 testimony first hand
21
In a June 2020 letter, Tom Wilson said the Eric Davis memo contains detailed accounts of alleged efforts by him to get access to Special Access Programs and of meetings he supposedly had with contractors or Special Access Program managers, and that he participated in no such meetings and never formally or informally requested such access.
“‘The Dr Eric Davis memo contains somewhat detailed accounts of alleged efforts by me to get access to Special Access Programs . . . and of meetings I supposedly had with various contractors or Special Access Program managers/overseers. I participated in no such meetings on these subjects. I never formally or informally requested any such access, was never denied such access and was never threatened to have my career “derailed” if I persisted,’ he told me.”
In Plain Sight 2023-11-17 ch26:7043-7525 testimony first hand
22
The UAP provisions of the National Defense Authorization Act 2023 provide protections to ensure that no classified military and intelligence programs, including all Special Access Programs (SAPs), are compromised or made public.
“The UAP laws also provide protections to ensure that no classified military and intelligence programs, including all special access programs (SAPs) are compromised or made public.”
In Plain Sight 2023-11-17 ch30:15610-15782 administrative
23
The two damaged M1 Abrams tanks from Camp New York, Kuwait were shipped to the Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona for analysis, and Lue Elizondo never learned the findings, as the analysis was classified as a Top Secret Special Access Program (SAP).
“the two tanks were immediately taken to the port, loaded aboard a transport ship, and shipped to the Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona for analysis. I never did learn the findings. The powers that be classified the analysis a “Top Secret SAP.””
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs 2024-08-19 ch10:16960-17195 testimony first hand
24
Jay Stratton and Luis Elizondo would tell military witnesses that they worked for a Special Access Program and it was likely the witness had encountered one of their technologies, encouraging witnesses to describe what they saw so it could be better concealed in future.
“we work for a Special Access Program, and it's very likely you came across one of our technologies. We do our best to hide these things, but sometimes people who are observant, such as yourself, see one. We would really appreciate it if you could tell us exactly what you saw, so if it *is* one of ours, we can hide it better in the future.”
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs 2024-08-19 ch17:8352-8685 testimony first hand
25
Christopher Mellon had spent years with oversight of all Special Access Programs (SAPs) for the Department of Defense but admitted he had had zero visibility into the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) topic.
“He had spent years having oversight of all the SAPs for the DoD and he admitted to us that he had zero visibility into the UAP topic.”
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs 2024-08-19 ch26:5297-5424 testimony second hand
26
Christopher Mellon oversaw all Department of Defense intelligence activities and Special Access Programs (SAPs).
“He oversaw all Department of Defense intelligence activities and Special Access Programs (SAPs).”
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs 2024-08-19 ch26:915-1005 administrative first hand
27
A Special Access Program (SAP) is essentially a compartmentalised secret.
“we all know what a Special Access Program is. It's essentially a secret, a compartmentalized secret.”
The DANGEROUS Truth About UFOs - Ross Coulthart | DEBRIEFED ep. 76 2026-02-20 00:33:58.3-00:34:02.7 administrative first hand
28
The most tightly held category of United States compartmentalised secrets is the Waived Unacknowledged Special Access Program (WUSAP), above the Unacknowledged Special Access Program (USAP).
“Unacknowledged Special Access Programs, and then the biggest one of all are the WUSAPs, the Waived Unacknowledged Special Access Programs.”
The DANGEROUS Truth About UFOs - Ross Coulthart | DEBRIEFED ep. 76 2026-02-20 00:34:06.8-00:34:13.1 administrative first hand
29
Ross Coulthart does not believe the separate United States Air Force astronaut programme was actually shut down, and thinks it went black.
“I don't think it was ... I think it went black.”
The DANGEROUS Truth About UFOs - Ross Coulthart | DEBRIEFED ep. 76 2026-02-20 00:47:33.0-00:47:35.1 opinion first hand
30
David Grusch had knowledge of over 2,000 special access programmes, up to and including waived unacknowledged special access programmes.
“He had knowledge of, I think over 2000 special access programs right up to WUSAPs.”
The DANGEROUS Truth About UFOs - Ross Coulthart | DEBRIEFED ep. 76 2026-02-20 01:19:01.8-01:19:05.8 testimony first hand
31
Jason Samosa considers that special access programs (SAPs) did not exist under that terminology in 1952, but that the Collins Elite funding arrangement resembles one.
“I don't think special access programs were a thing then by that terminology, but it sounds like that”
The UFO Cover-Up Leads to One Secret Society — and One Final Event 2026-07-14 00:17:34.8-00:17:40.2 opinion first hand
32
Skywatcher is a modern version of programmes that attempt to summon UFOs, and such summoning work has been carried out for some time within special access programmes.
“you have these summoning programs of UFOs, like Skywatcher is this kind of modern version of this or whatever. But it seems like we've been doing this kind of in, you know, special access programs for a while.”
The UFO Cover-Up Leads to One Secret Society — and One Final Event 2026-07-14 01:06:32.5-01:06:42.8 opinion first hand
33
Jason Samosa counts five or six stages of UFO disclosure as already delivered: that there is something in the air, that its nature is unknown, that some of these objects have crashed, that they are very likely not Russian or Chinese, that bodies have been recovered, and that there is a secret and sensitive programme.
“So we've had, there's something in the air. We don't know what it is, but we've had, um, some of these things have crashed. It's very likely not Russia or China. We've got the bodies, there's a secret program and it's sensitive. We've been through like five or six courses.”
The UFO Cover-Up Leads to One Secret Society — and One Final Event 2026-07-14 02:07:58.0-02:08:09.5 opinion first hand
34
UAP Gerb considers Edward C. Aldridge to have been instrumental, while Under Secretary of the Air Force, in morphing legacy programmes and using expanding special access programme (SAP) security controls to hide them within other programmes and programme cover offices.
“Edward C. Aldridge was pretty instrumental during his time as Under Secretary of the Air Force for helping programs kind of morph legacy programs and take advantage of expanding SAP security controls to kind of hide itself within other programs and program cover offices.”
Jesse Michels, UAPGerb & Chris Ramsay - Flying Saucer Diner 2026-07-17 00:52:20.8-00:52:35.3 opinion first hand
35
The programmes placed under the Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force by Edward C. Aldridge bypassed that office's special access programme oversight channel, SAF/AAZ, which covers information, special programme oversight and security.
“these programs that were stuffed under SAFAA... by Aldridge, bypassed the SAFAA's special access program oversight channels, which is the SAFAAZ... which is info slash special program oversight slash security.”
Jesse Michels, UAPGerb & Chris Ramsay - Flying Saucer Diner 2026-07-17 00:53:18.8-00:53:29.3 testimony first hand
36
UAP Gerb regards the bypassing of traditional special access programme oversight channels by Edward C. Aldridge's outside activities under cover offices as a major warning sign.
“under Aldridge, he kind of morphed these outside activities under cover offices that bypass traditional special access program oversight channels. That's like a really big red alert.”
Jesse Michels, UAPGerb & Chris Ramsay - Flying Saucer Diner 2026-07-17 00:53:44.5-00:53:55.7 opinion first hand
37
While working in the intelligence community, David Grusch worked on sensitive programmes that were purposely hidden from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence oversight staff and briefed only to the White House, being kept away from United States Congress through a shell game of not reporting programmes.
“when I was uh back in the intelligence community there were sensitive programs i worked on that we purposely hid from the director of national intelligence oversight staff um stuff we only briefed the white house and you know kept it away from congress through a unique shell game of not reporting programs”
David Grusch: The Whistleblower Who Told Congress We're Not Alone 2026-08-13 00:08:09.3-00:08:28.2 testimony first hand
38
In sensitive meetings David Grusch held with senior officials of the current administration, those officials described being briefed by the Central Intelligence Agency about a classified programme in their White House role and then hearing a totally different account of the same programme when briefed at another agency alongside a cabinet member.
“i've had sensitive meetings with senior officials of this administration and they've also encountered that where They're briefed by one thing, by CIA, in their one hat at the White House. And then when they go to another agency and sit in a briefing for that same program, they're telling another cabinet member a totally different story about what this classified program is doing.”
David Grusch: The Whistleblower Who Told Congress We're Not Alone 2026-08-13 00:08:29.8-00:08:51.1 hearsay second hand
39
David Grusch was told unofficially through a back channel that Jake Sullivan and the White House Office of the Counsel to the President instructed Thomas Monheim, the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community under Joe Biden, and his staff to stop their investigation because it was running into White House classified special access programs.
“back channeled to me unofficially is uh Jake Sullivan and White House General Counsel Office basically told Tom Monheim who was the inspector general for the intelligence community under Biden and his staff to stop and and they realized they were bumping into White House uh classified programs something called special access programs”
David Grusch: The Whistleblower Who Told Congress We're Not Alone 2026-08-13 00:27:04.0-00:27:22.1 hearsay second hand
40
David Grusch considered that a number of the programmes he was cleared into were defrauding the American taxpayer, because the United States Congress authorises and appropriates funds against a declared set of classified programmes while a carved-out base of technology is sequestered outside that reporting.
“there was a lot of programs uh that once again i thought we were defrauding the american taxpayer because you have a certain smorgasbord of classified programs reported to congress and then congress authorizes and appropriates funds the funds said programs, but then you have this carved out base of technology that is sequestered”
David Grusch: The Whistleblower Who Told Congress We're Not Alone 2026-08-13 00:41:49.3-00:42:10.4 opinion first hand
41
David Grusch must be careful not to identify technologies that the federal government does not acknowledge.
“And I have to be careful not to infer certain technologies that are unacknowledged by the federal governments.”
David Grusch: The Whistleblower Who Told Congress We're Not Alone 2026-08-13 00:42:16.2-00:42:21.4 testimony first hand
42
A programme protection strategy exists to move movable archives and materials if a holding location is believed to have been exposed.
“um there is a program protection strategy unfortunately to move movable archives and materials if they feel like the location has been burned or exposed”
David Grusch: The Whistleblower Who Told Congress We're Not Alone 2026-08-13 00:44:31.5-00:44:40.5 testimony first hand
43
Moving recovered craft to private corporations also keeps the funding outside congressional oversight, since non-appropriated dollars are used.
“And also keeping the funding outside of congressional oversight. So if you're using non-appropriated dollars and you're using a corporation whose net profits are be”
David Grusch: The Whistleblower Who Told Congress We're Not Alone 2026-08-13 00:48:25.4-00:48:35.6 testimony first hand
44
David Grusch named several current and former government officials who ran programmes on behalf of the government and provided the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) with several leads.
“I named several current former government officials that ran these programs. on behalf of the government and provided them several leads”
David Grusch: The Whistleblower Who Told Congress We're Not Alone 2026-08-13 00:49:13.3-00:49:20.8 testimony first hand