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Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF)

A Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) is a secure, electromagnetically shielded room used within the US government and military to store, discuss, and view Sensitive Compartmented Information belonging to Special Access Programs.

Security facility / classification term · Storing and discussing Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) within Special Access Programs (SAPs)

A Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) is a secure space used to store, discuss, and view Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) belonging to a Special Access Program (SAP). A SAP designation is not itself a higher security classification than top secret; it denotes that a project is compartmented, its material designated SCI, and given a codename.¹ Even the most senior military officials holding the highest top-secret clearance are barred from the details behind a SAP or SCI codename unless they have been formally “read into” the programme.² A SCIF is built to block sound, radio, and electromagnetic waves.³ Christopher K. Mellon’s role on the staff of the US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence required him to review top-secret SCI projects held inside SAPs, most of which remain classified.⁴ John Podesta held top-secret/SCI clearances in his earlier roles under Presidents Barack Obama and William J. Clinton.⁵ According to In Plain Sight, sources with top-secret and compartmented security clearances say that no senior military official holding a Top Secret Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS-SCI) clearance should ever be surprised at being refused information by a contractor.⁶

SCIFs feature repeatedly in first-hand accounts of Pentagon-based programmes investigating Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) given by Luis Elizondo. Jay Stratton and James Lacatski briefed Elizondo on the Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program (AAWSAP) and the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP) inside a SCIF.⁷

Harold E. Puthoff visited the Pentagon and met Elizondo’s team in a SCIF.⁸ Elizondo and Puthoff went on to discuss propulsion theories for UAP in a SCIF for several hours.⁹ Elizondo has said that during that discussion the group identified a possible explanation for elevated UAP activity around nuclear sites and technologies.¹⁰

Elizondo also used a SCIF to share reports, photographs, data, and intelligence on legacy UAP efforts with Mellon over the course of three hours.¹¹ Mellon had earlier visited Elizondo’s SCIF unannounced, identifying himself and expressing interest in helping AATIP.¹²

SCIF spaces also hosted the weekly meetings held under OPLAN Interloper, for which the National Security Agency (NSA) and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) offered assets in support; some of these meetings took place at the Pentagon and others at different agencies.¹³

Elizondo envisioned an alternative to routine SCIF access, proposing to declassify some UAP videos and make them available to handpicked colleagues in the defence industry via a secure government server, rather than requiring them to obtain clearance and view the footage in a SCIF.¹⁴ In 2023, Elizondo made multiple trips from his home to Washington DC and spent many hours in a SCIF with US Senate leaders regarding the UAP Disclosure Act.¹⁵

References (15)

A SAP designation is not a higher classification than top secret; it means the project is compartmented, designated SCI, and given 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 ch14:10905-11193 View the source record →
Even senior officials with top-secret clearance are barred from SAP/SCI details unless formally read into the programme
“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 ch14:11203-11384 View the source record →
A SCIF blocks sound, radio, and electromagnetic waves
“They block sound and radio and electromagnetic waves.”
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs ch12:457-504 View the source record →
Mellon's Senate Intelligence Committee staff role required him to review top-secret SCI projects inside SAPs
“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 ch13:9050-9253 View the source record →
Podesta held top-secret/SCI clearances under Presidents Obama and Clinton
“He is a senior and well-respected public servant who held top-secret/SCI clearances in his past roles with both Presidents Obama and Clinton.”
In Plain Sight ch20:17002-17135 View the source record →
Sources with top-secret and compartmented clearances say no senior official with TS-SCI clearance should be surprised at being refused information by a contractor
“Sources with top-secret and compartmented security clearances say no senior military official with a Top Secret Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS-SCI) clearance should ever be surprised at such a refusal from a contractor.”
In Plain Sight ch14:19672-19916 View the source record →
Stratton and Lacatski briefed Elizondo on AAWSAP/AATIP in a SCIF
“Jay and Jim began briefing me on the program in a SCIF”
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs ch12:245-295 View the source record →
Puthoff visited the Pentagon and met Elizondo's team in a SCIF
“I’d just returned from an international work trip when I learned that our friend Hal was in town and visiting the Pentagon. He had news to share and was waiting for us in a SCIF.”
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs ch24:102-275 View the source record →
Elizondo and Puthoff discussed UAP propulsion theories in a SCIF for several hours
“We had been in the SCIF now for several hours. Hal had explained how the primary observables were possible, even the sizes and shapes of the various craft seen over the years, based upon propulsion theories.”
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs ch24:24299-24497 View the source record →
The group identified a possible explanation for elevated UAP activity around nuclear sites during the SCIF discussion
“a list of commonalities of UAP encounters was discussed... we realized what this also suggested: the explanation for why there has been so much UAP activity around our nuclear sites and technologies”
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs ch24:24535-24757 View the source record →
Elizondo shared reports, photographs, data and intelligence on legacy UAP efforts with Mellon for three hours in a SCIF
“For the next three hours, I proceeded to share with Chris our reports, photographs, pictures, and data, and intel we had gathered on legacy efforts.”
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs ch26:4997-5137 View the source record →
Mellon visited Elizondo's SCIF unannounced and offered to help AATIP
“"Hi! I’m Chris Mellon," he said. ... Chris expressed interest in helping us.”
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs ch26:613-675 View the source record →
NSA and CIA offered assets for Operation Plan Interloper; weekly meetings were held in SCIF spaces at the Pentagon and other agencies
“The NSA and CIA offered to provide assets as well, and we launched weekly meetings in the SCIF spaces we had available. Some of these meetings occurred at the Pentagon, while others were held at other agencies.”
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs ch23:13729-13930 View the source record →
Elizondo envisioned declassifying some UAP videos via a secure server rather than requiring SCIF viewing
“Instead of having experts get clearance and be forced to view the footage in a SCIF with us, I envisioned declassifying some videos and making them available on a secure government server. We would share the appropriate password with handpicked colleagues and instruct them to watch the videos at their leisure.”
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs ch27:2575-2878 View the source record →
Elizondo spent many hours in a SCIF with Senate leaders on the UAP Disclosure Act in 2023
“I quietly made multiple trips from my home to DC, where I logged many hours alone in a SCIF with our nation's leaders”
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs ch32:6334-6444 View the source record →

Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF)

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